Practice Playing Second Fiddle in God's Orchestra
Mark 1:1-8 Study Guide
Soul Food
“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—
“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” - Mark 1:1-8 NIV
Soul Search
Have you ever worked really hard to be number one either at school or at work or doing sports? We all know it’s great to ultimately be number one, but how do you do being number two or three or ten or 19 or 35?
It’s important to work hard to do our best, but how do you feel about yourself when you aren’t number one?
In the workplace, there are only a very few who have the most senior positions in companies. If you’re not among those in that limited line-up how do you deal with that?
Are you content with the position you have no matter what number you are? If you aren’t number one, do you ever resent or become envious of the person who is?
Soul Moves
No matter what number you are in your company, your school or your sport, ask God to show you ways to be content in that position even as you strive and work hard to improve.
Ask yourself if you will be OK in your own head and heart even if you never make it to becoming number one.
Come up with ways to make your co-workers’ lives (even in they aren’t above you in title) easier and better and help them out at work.
Participate in a study group at school with the person who consistently gets the best grades in class.
Come alongside the best athlete in your sport and offer to help them with training so they might get even better. You will probably help yourself improve in the process.
Look for ‘small’ situations where you can practice being number two – or any number besides number one. Maybe these small situations will help you in the bigger situations. Here are some ideas:
Hold a door open for someone and let them go in first
Let someone else go ahead of you in the checkout line at the grocery store
Let others at the table in the restaurant place their orders first
Offer the last piece of cake to someone else (even though you really want it).
