“…you are not to be called rabbi (teacher), for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone [in the church] on earth father, for you have one Father, Who is in heaven. And you must not be called masters (leaders), for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ.” Matthew 23:8-10 ->me: This is Jesus talking to the disciples. These are the men (witnesses of Jesus), including Peter, who would carry the gospel forward, be filled with the Holy Spirit, able to perform miracles, speak in tongues, and lead people into an eternal relationship with God….but, they would not be called ‘teacher’, ‘father’ (I wonder if catholic priests have read this passage), or ‘leader/master’. These were personal monikers of status that the Pharisees sought to have – doing everything to raise themselves up and get the best seats in the synagogues. The following verse Jesus says “the greatest among you will be your servant”. With everything I have going on in my life right now, I can sometimes have a mind that seeks entitlement -> I worked hard for this….I have put up this treatment too long….I deserve better. These thoughts are toxic and counter to the attitudes Jesus calls me to have. I need this reminder today -> He is my Rabbi/Teacher, God is my Father, and Christ is my Master/Leader. I have one role on this earth, to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ and to never seek a place status or position over them.
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