SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14
Scripture: Mark 10:41

James and John’s desire for the two best places in the Kingdom made a clear impact on the other ten because it caused great strife among them. Not only did it cause great strife but it opened the door for Jesus to do a teaching about the Kingdom. Suddenly, in their midst were the motivations of the world. How the world functions came into view and Jesus used it to draw a distinction between how the Kingdom operates and how religion operates. This may be the most informative unfolding of truth that we have displayed between Jesus and the disciples as it relates to how their counterparts functioned in the religious system of that day. If we can catch the distinction that Jesus is bringing, we can understand how growth and development unfolds in the true Kingdom of God.