Jesus, have you noticed my boys? - Matthew 20:17-34

For many years my mother worked as a waitress in a supper club. She often told stories of a customer's demands from the evening; a menu item they wanted changed, requests for free sample plates, and so on. I was always impressed with the kind, but firm come-backs she would have for them.

In our Scripture for today, Jesus uses a mother's exuberance for her sons' well-being, to give us a lesson in servant hood. It is comical to read this passage and realize the sons were in on this venture to get second and third billing. It is comforting to hear Jesus' response, His kind but firm reply to them. He simply said, “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” (Matthew 20:22)

My mother's job was to serve others; she got paid to do this. I learned from our talks that serving wasn't always fun, serving others often caused her to swallow her pride and put up with another's foolish demands. Jesus wanted to be sure these brothers, as well as the rest of His disciples, knew what lie ahead. He used this time to teach them they would suffer for His sake. He taught them that to love is to serve and to serve is to love.

This lesson is true for us today.  Do you have a story to share about serving with love.  What does it mean to have a servant's heart?

Read the entire text for today here.