Universal Utterings®
for September 23, 2024
A Godcast ® brought to you by
God First Ministries, Inc. 501c3
09-23-2024 Mark 9 V-3537 Child Receive in My Name
The Gospel of Mark Chapter 9 v- 35 thru 37
35 Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” 36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Mark 9:35-37 presents a profound teaching moment from Jesus, emphasizing the values of humility and servanthood in the Kingdom of God. In this passage, Jesus addresses His disciples after they had been arguing about who among them was the greatest. To counter their worldly notions of status and power, Jesus takes a child and places him among them, illustrating a powerful lesson.
In verse 35, Jesus declares, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” This statement flips conventional wisdom on its head. In a society that often equates greatness with authority and recognition, Jesus emphasizes that true greatness lies in serving others. By adopting a posture of humility and service, one aligns with the heart of God’s Kingdom.
Verses 36-37 further illustrate this point as Jesus embraces the child, saying, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Here, Jesus uses the child as a symbol of vulnerability and dependence, qualities often overlooked in a culture that values strength and achievement. Welcoming a child reflects an openness to the least among us, suggesting that God’s presence is intimately tied to our treatment of those who hold no social standing.
This passage invites believers to reflect on their own attitudes towards greatness and service. It challenges the notion of seeking power and prestige, instead urging an embrace of humility and the willingness to serve others, especially those who are marginalized or overlooked. Ultimately, Mark 9:35-37 encapsulates the radical upside-down nature of Jesus’ teachings, calling His followers to live out a different kind of greatness rooted in love and service. Amen.
Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.
I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins
Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20
09-23-2024 Mark 9 V-3537
**Child Receive in My Name**
In the midst of a crowded throng,
Where the proud and the mighty belong,
The disciples debated, their hearts set on height,
Who among them would bask in the light.
Jesus, aware of their yearning for fame,
Gathered them close, spoke softly, called names.
He took a small child, so innocent and pure,
And placed him among them, a lesson to cure.
“If you wish to be first, then be last in your quest,
Serve all those around you, for that is the test.
Greatness, my friends, is not found in a throne,
But in lifting the lowly, in love that is shown.”
With a gentle embrace, He welcomed the child,
A symbol of faith, so humble, so mild.
“To welcome the least is to welcome Me too,
In serving each other, My love will shine through.”
In the heart of the child lies a truth so profound,
That the Kingdom of Heaven is where love is truly found.
Not in titles or power, but in kindness displayed,
In the arms of the helpless, true greatness is made.
So let us remember, in all that we seek,
To serve one another, the strong and the weak.
For in every small gesture, in each loving deed,
We reflect Christ’s compassion, fulfilling His need. Amen.
© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins
September 23, 2024 @ 04:44 AM EST
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