But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

In the age of social media, smartphones, and cutting-edge technology, there is no lack of advertisements. We see them whether looking at our phones, walking through the store, or driving down the street. We have grown so accustomed to them that we are often unaware of the influence they have on us. Few ads lead us to consider others; they often cause us to consider ourselves and the things we desire for our own happiness.

Even before the age of advertisements, this issue of selfishness was a problem. Jesus called out His disciples for this very thing. They were focused on the position they wanted and the status and power that come with it. Jesus reminded them that the kingdom of God works differently than human inclination. One thing that sets followers of Christ apart from the world around them is a life of service. The first in the kingdom of God are not the ones looking out for their desires but those who are looking to the interests of others. The first are not the ones who work their way to the top but the ones who serve the people around them and trust God to lift them up. If we are Christians, this is the example we follow from Him. He came not to be served but to serve; so, it should be in our lives. Many sources influence us to look out for ourselves first, from the advertisements we consume to the entertainment we take in. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, following the example of Christ, we can live counter-culturally and point people to the Savior we follow.

• What are some ways you are prone to consider yourself first?
• How did Jesus live that was counter-cultural to the norms of the world?
• Pray and ask God to equip you to serve those around you.