DCLM Daily Manna 7 July 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Position Rivalry

TOPIC: Position Rivalry (DCLM Daily Manna 7 July 2025)

KEY VERSE: “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:43,44).

TEXT: Mark 10:35-45 (KJV)

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?

37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.

38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?

39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:

44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:

This excerpt is from a sermon titled Closer Walk posted on the Sermon Search website in December 1991. “In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn’t a technology problem like radar malfunction or even thick fog. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship’s presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to news reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.”

Christ emphasises the importance of humility in leadership. In today’s passage, James and John request that Jesus do whatever they desire. They wanted Him to secure their two topmost positions in His coming kingdom. The narrative shows that all the disciples of Christ were equally concerned about position, power, and prominence in God’s kingdom. However, Christ’s response redefines what constitutes true greatness in the kingdom of God. He points out that true discipleship and greatness are about sacrifice, service, and readiness to suffer for His sake. The paradox of true greatness in God’s kingdom is that the one who serves the most is the greatest.

After coming into God’s kingdom, you must be sanctified and be purged of the worldly tendency to lust and lobby for position and power to control others. Your focus would then be to Christ and be conquered by Him rather than asking Him to do for you whatever you desire. Selfish ambition would be uprooted from your heart, and you would put on the mind of Christ, the Servant-leader, who became extraordinary by humbling Himself to the point of dying on the cross.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Your greatness is measured by the extent to which you are ready to serve selflessly in God’s kingdom.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
2 Kings 14-15

Deeper Life Daily Manna For Today 2025 was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.