Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

As I was reading this verse this morning and working through my prayer time with God, my initial response to this passage was to come up with a few people I knew who seek leadership roles, without putting in the work to be asked into them. They want to be in charge, they want to call the shots, and they want to be doted over and made to feel like they are a cut above.

If we are honest, most of us can easily think about someone who fits in this category, right?

Well, God did something pretty great with me today … my 6-year old son came out and wanted to spend time with me. I had already asked him to turn off the TV and go into his room because I wanted to do something important, like writing my devotional. But God’s Spirit must have prompted him to come back out to teach me a valuable lesson.

As I was explaining the concept of being a servant leader to my son, I had to explain that when other people do things to us that we don’t appreciate, God calls us to serve them in response.

This softened my heart and allowed me to see that I should not be focusing the application of this passage on others who might be seeking to be promoted without warranting it, or wanting to be in charge. Instead, I should think of Jesus' response to his disciples. He didn't act in anger or respond with a put down, but he told them the truth and then addressed the whole group with the correction.

He looked past James and John’s demands and arrogant request and he looked at their future potential to love and serve. Instead of focusing on the sinful behavior, he focused on the future good he wanted them to do. Such a great encouragement for me!

Lord, you were a master at looking past the offense and into the potential of those around you. Help me to do the same, as I engage in the relationships around me. May I reflect your ways!