[James and John] replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Mark 10:37-38 NIV
Before we overestimate what we would actually do to serve the Lord, we had better look at some who failed him miserably. This retrospective is not to discourage us, but to humble us and remind us of how difficult it is to let faith triumph over fear and trust win over trial. We will not succeed on our own, but with the help of the Lord and the encouragement of each other and by God’s grace, we can remain faithful even unto the point of death.
Today’s Prayer: O God, I confess that I cannot serve you alone. My strength is not sufficient. Looking at the great heroes of faith who came before me and who paid the ultimate price, I’m sure that I don’t have the strength to pay the ultimate price on my own. I sometimes have trouble even in my efforts to serve you and others. So, dear Father, I turn to you and the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain me. I ask that the encouragement and support of your people will help uphold me. I promise to do my best, but I also know that without your grace, my best is not sufficient. So please strengthen my courage and inspire my strength. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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