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we will suffer

Matthew 20:23
"And He saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father."

This week we are looking at things we NEED TO "SQUASH." Squash as in suppress, stifle, or subdue. Like the type of ambition and motivation to get ahead of our peers. As demonstrated by Salome, the wife of Zebedee and mother of John the beloved and James the great (two of Jesus's Disciples.) She asked Jesus to make her sons His right and left hand men. Putting them ahead of all their peers.

James and John and their mom are thinking of a THRONE and a place of privilege. We like to think we are better than others and deserve our own THRONE. But we are not as good as God, and Jesus is talking about His place on the CROSS. Something no mom would want for her sons. When Jesus askes them they say "WE ARE ABLE." Not knowing what they are really saying. 

We like to think we are ABLE to earn our gifts from GOD. This idea also needs to be SQUASHED. We can flip our thinking around; because of God's great gift of GRACE to us we want to do good for Him. And, we just might be like James and John; eager to do our part but not understanding what that part will be! In today's verse Jesus answered them... "And He saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not Mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father."

Jesus is the first to suffer and to demonstrate the GLORY of resurrection. His words here should be chilling to James and John, because they will suffer also. James will be killed by sword and John will be imprisoned on the isle of Patmos. And, we need to know in advance that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Think about this. The world did not, and does not like Jesus. They don't care for His followers either. Our loyalty is to Jesus and not to this world.

We can all feel persecuted at some point, BUT, there is all too real persecution of Christians in our world. Check out the website of The Voice of The Martyrs and join us in praying for Christians being persecuted around the world.
https://www.persecution.com/globalprayerguide/?_source_code=WHPB20C
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