Skip to main content

158. Who's Side Are You On?


Mark 9:38-41, Luke 9:49-50
Key Verse: "Whoever is not against us is for us."
Mark 9:40

This is actually a continuation of the discussion about who is the greatest. Jesus had not approved of the disciples arguing among themselves, just as parents don't enjoy arguments that take place among their children. John must have thought, however, surely, Jesus would agree with us here. We're like a family. We've got to stick together and defend our leader and His purpose!

The disciples were thinking the way the world thinks, with an "us versus them" mentality. They had the corner on the market! They had Jesus! Jesus had picked them and enabled them to do all the miracles. So, as the world thinks, it was only natural that they would try to shut down what they saw as "the competition."

Jesus, however, had not come to be exclusive. He had come to spread grace. "The Kingdom of God truly was at hand," and available to all who would put their faith in Him.

I'm sure that, thinking as they did, the disciples were expecting a pat on the back for stopping others who were claiming to do good in Jesus' name. What a shock it must have been to them when Jesus did just the opposite. "Do not stop him, no one who does a miracle in My name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:39-40)

How often do we do this in our churches today? We want our church to be the only game in town. We want our theological position to be the right one! Everyone else is guilty of holding belief in false doctrine. Our understanding of scripture is correct. We can become exclusive in our attitude toward others, even other Christians and not conduct ourselves with grace and humility toward others.

We need to take to heart Jesus' admonition here to His disciples. "I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of cold water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose their reward." (Mark 9:41) We need to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord even more than we love those who have not yet found Him. Galatians 6:10 says: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Wouldn't the world be attracted to Christ if, instead of divisions and factions, they saw people getting along despite their differences? Wouldn't that be setting the example of the amazing forbearance that can be accomplished when Christ is truly honored? Jesus said, "by this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)

"In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity." The Psalmist says it this way, "I am a friend to all those who fear You, to all who follow your precepts." (Psa. 119:63) Let's try harder to live that way for Jesus’ sake and leave the "us versus them" mentality behind, where it belongs.

Hymn: "All Will Be Well"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 24 You’ll See, He Remembers

The wise inherit honor, but fools He holds up to shame. ~Proverbs 3:35 “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.” ~Isaiah 3:10 “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” ~Hebrews 6:10-12 “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them. The sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” ~1 Timothy 5:24-25 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” ~Matthew 12:36-3...
Post a Comment
Read more