The Thirty
THE THIRTY
Read Matthew 20:25-28.
Jason pointed a stick at a bush. An imaginary enemy was behind it!
“Winning the war again?” asked Dad, who had been in a real war. “You know I don’t like you to even pretend to shoot anyone, Son.”
“I’m going to be a real hero someday,” said Jason.
“I hope you get to be a hero some other way than by being in a war. What do you want to be?”
Jason said, “I want to be important, like David in the Bible. He killed Goliath and was a king.”
“How about being as important as the Three or the Thirty?” asked Dad. Jason looked puzzled. “We’ll talk about them later,” Dad promised. “Right now I hear your mother calling.”
Soon the whole family was helping Mom take some groceries to the basement, some to the pantry, some to the kitchen. “She’s like a general in the army,” Jason muttered.
During family devotions Dad said, “We’re going to read about the Three and the Thirty.” He read 2 Samuel 23:18-23 to introduce his family to some of David’s mighty men.
“They were famous only because they served with King David,” observed Jason.
“Think so?” asked Dad. “Or was King David famous because he had those mighty men?” Dad looked at his family. “For every general there are thousands of soldiers. They carry out his plans, and he becomes famous. We have one Lord—Jesus Christ—and it’s our responsibility to glorify Him, not to make a name for ourselves. I’d love to be like one of the Thirty in God’s army.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Does serving Jesus and others seem dull? Do you wait for the time when you can be independent and not have to take orders anymore? Jesus instructed His people to serve. That’s the way to true greatness.
TO MEMORIZE:
Among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.
Matthew 20:26
BE A SERVANT.
From the book
