By Andrew Williams – July 6, 2022
But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism [of suffering and death] with which I am baptized?”
Mark 10:38 AMP
Good morning fellow disciples.
Sometimes we go to God with what we believe are the best intentions. We have already thought things through and believe that when we go to God, He will be in full agreement with our plans and that He will give His approval.
Many times we don’t understand the Kingdom of God and/or our roles in it. This leads us to think, say and, do things that are unacceptable to God.
Sometimes we don’t understand the implications of our questions or actions. We see things from our limited human perspective instead of from a Kingdom of God perspective.
James and John did not understand Jesus’ role and purpose, nor did they understand the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus had to go through to “inherit ” the Kingdom that was prepared for Him. They were thinking about the benefits of the Kingdom without the work/persecution/sacrifice that came before the benefits could be realized.
Isn’t this how we act as Christians today? We want to reign with God without experiencing the things that Jesus did. We want to be walking in power without fully surrendering and submitting to God, without resisting the devil or, without fleeing the sins we need to flee from.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have asked a thought provoking question: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism [of suffering and death] with which I am baptized?”
Lord, honestly, I do not know! I don’t want to suffer and I don’t want to die a horrible death, but if that is what awaits me, sigh, I will follow in your footsteps.
Sigh…. Amen.