Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

The Olympics are over and the US team was the overall winner in medals, with 126. They also tied with China for the most Gold medals, which was 40. Based on this world competition, the United States of America can assert it’s the number one country athletically, or as Tina Turner would say, ‘simply the best’. Speaking of being the best, our focus this week is firsts.

Today we’ll begin with looking at God’s view of first.

Today’s scripture, Mark 9:33‭-‬35 (NLT) shares God’s perspective on first…
After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Consider…
Hall of Fame NASCAR Racer Dale Earnhardt Sr. said, “Second place is just first loser!” And in the movie Talladega Nights Will Ferrell’s character, Ricky Bobby said “if you ain’t first, you’re last”.

Being first is an obsession for most of the human race. And as a person who doesn’t like to lose, I must confess that I too am guilty of having an unhealthy obsession with being ‘simply the best, better than all the rest’. Lord forgive me. 🙏🏾

I remember telling my wife that I don’t like losing, and she told me to get used to it because all she does is ‘win, win, win no matter what’ (DJ Khaled). 😭😭😭

We live in a world of winners and losers. A world where you’re either first or forgotten.

Recently there was an attempt by some to build the self-esteem of children by giving out participation awards. However, I have heard that notion bemoaned by competitive adults who say that rewarding mediocracy gives a false sense of success.

In today’s scripture, Jesus’ disciples were obsessing of who would be the greatest. Sadly, many Christians today are still obsessing about the the same thing. Yet, notice Jesus’ response…
He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Jesus’ response is counter-cultural. Does that mean our obsession with being first is counter-Jesus? Before you dismiss my question, read Philippians 2:5‭-‬8 (NLT). Paul wrote…
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

We’re supposed to think like Jesus, yet notice what is highlighted about Him…

• Jesus gave up being equal with God! And since there’s no one greater than God, that means Jesus gave up being the greatest! 🤔
• Jesus gave up His divine privileges. That means He gave up His first place rights to make us right. 🤔
• He took the humble position of a slave. Think about that for a moment. Jesus wasn’t forced into slavery, He chose to be a slave, bound in human flesh. He chose to become the lowest despite being the best! 🤔
• And if that’s not enough, Jesus died a criminal’s death. In order to give us the victory over sin and death, Christ had to be crucified like a loser. 🤔

…yet all we want to do is ‘win, win, win no matter what’.

Paul’s exhortation for us to transform our thinking to be like Christ continues with God’s evaluation of winning and losing. Philippians 2:9‭-‬11 (NLT) says…
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This shows us that while Jesus may have seemed like a loser by the world’s rules, God saw Him as the first place winner. Because of Jesus’ humble obedience to become lowest of all, bearing the weight of our sin and shame, God elevated Him to the highest place of honor and gave Him a name above every name.

It’s tempting to think of course God lifted Jesus, I mean He was His only begotten Son. However, don’t underappreciate the transformational truth that we just read. God elevated Jesus because of His humble obedience to Him. That’s very important because James 4:10 (NLT) encourages us…
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Whatever your world view instincts are, remember God’s view is topsy-turvy. Therefore, change your theme song from ‘all I do is win, win, win no matter what’ to ‘obedience to Him, Him, Him no matter what’, which will make you a true winner!

So today, let’s focus on being first in God’s eyes, which is by being last and a servant to all. Because if you truly want to be number one, you’ll live a life that will have God say well done!

Today’s song is…
Well Done

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)