Day 26 – Be warned
Mark 9:38-50
“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For 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. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Liz Nixon writes:
Again, with time running out, Jesus uses these encounters as precious teaching moments to His disciples. He teaches them about the nature of spiritual warfare, that if someone is against Satan, they that person is working for the cause of Jesus. He also warns them about causing anyone to fall away from Him – doing this brings about a really harsh judgement from Jesus. Finally, He calls His disciples to live loving God and loving our neighbour.
Jesus is continuing to reveal to His disciples, and to us, His followers today, what it truly means to be one of His disciples. Which parts of your apprenticeship to Jesus do you enjoy and come more naturally? Which parts of your apprenticeship as a disciple are harder, and take more work?
Share your thoughts with Him, and ask His Holy Spirit to empower you.