Lord Jesus,
Your kingdom doesn’t play by the rules of this world.
You tell me the last will be first, the humble exalted,
and the servants crowned with Your glory.
But I confess my heart still craves recognition.
I still want to be noticed, to be praised, to be rewarded.
So often I work not just for You, but for the approval of others.
Forgive me, Lord. Strip away the pride that poisons my motives.
Teach me to serve, not to be seen, but because I’ve seen You the Servant King.
You spoke of a master who paid each worker the same wage,
no matter when they came.
And I admit, Lord there’s a part of me that struggles with that grace.
It offends my sense of fairness.
It reminds me that I can’t earn Your love.
But isn’t that the beauty of it?
Your mercy isn’t measured in hours worked or merits gained
it is poured out freely, generously, undeserved.
Help me rejoice not just in what I’ve received, but in what others receive to.
You reminded Your disciples that greatness in Your kingdom
is not about position but about posture not about sitting on thrones but kneeling with towels.
And yet, like the mother of James and John,
I still long for places of glory.
But You didn’t scold her harshly;
You redirected her vision.
Redirect mine too, Lord.
Help me long not for seats of honor,
but for the honor of serving You,
however small, however hidden, however hard.
You said, “The Son of Man came not to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Let that truth undo me.
Let it humble me.
Let it reshape my every ambition.
You gave everything Your throne, Your rights, Your life.
Make me willing to give myself away,
to pour out my time, my strength, my comfort,
for the sake of others.
And then, at the road’s edge, two blind men cried out to You.
The crowd tried to silence them,
but You stopped.
You heard.
You asked, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Oh Jesus, You still ask that question.
So here is my answer
Open my eyes.
Heal the blindness of my pride.
Heal the blindness of my selfishness.
Heal the blindness that keeps me from seeing others as You do.
Let me see again
see Your grace rightly,
see my neighbor’s need clearly,
see my own sin honestly,
and see Your face in the midst of it all.
I want to follow You on the road, just as they did
not on my terms, but Yours.
Not clinging to status,
but clinging to the cross.
Jesus, make me last in the world’s eyes
if it means being first in Yours.
Make me a servant joyful, hidden, faithful.
Give me hands ready to serve,
ears ready to listen,
eyes ready to see,
and a heart ready to love
not for glory,
but for Your name.
In the name of the Son of Man who stooped low to lift us up,
Jesus Christ, my Servant King.
Amen.