“get out of it”
“Promise me that these sons of mine will sit, one at Your right hand and the other at Your left, in Your kingdom.” —Matthew 20:21
If you’re serving Jesus for what you can “get out of it,” then sooner or later, you’ll “get out of it.” That is, you’ll eventually get yourself out of serving Christ. This is because serving and following Jesus consists of what Jesus gets out of it rather than what we get out of it.
St. James learned this lesson very well. King Herod had James beheaded (Acts 12:2). James “got out” of Jesus’ ministry not by quitting but by being killed for Him. James had once desired to be first in Jesus’ ministry (Mt 20:21). Ironically, James was indeed first among the Twelve apostles — first to be martyred.
James must have been a very powerful apostle to be singled out by Herod for death. James must have powerfully spoken out (see 2 Cor 4:13) from his Spirit of faith. Otherwise, the Jews wouldn’t have been so pleased by his death (Acts 12:3). Only after James was killed did the Jewish leaders turn to St. Peter to try to kill him as well (Acts 12:2ff). Herod could have picked any of the apostles for the “honor” of being the first to be beheaded. But he chose James.
Are you tempted to “get out of” ministry because you’re not getting enough out of it? Learn a lesson from St. James and give your entire life to Jesus (Mt 20:22ff). Let Jesus get everything He can out of you.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, my life is Yours. Do in me whatever You must in order to do through me everything You will.
Promise: “Everything is ordered to your benefit.” —2 Cor 4:15
Praise: St. James is said to have powerfully evangelized Spain. Countless pilgrims have experienced the love of the Lord while hiking the Camino de Santiago and visiting the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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