Christ Church Daily Devotion Feb 7 2024

In today's Daily Devotion, we read from Mark 9:38-41. John proudly told Jesus that they had stopped someone from driving out demons because he wasn't part of their group. But Jesus disagreed and said that anyone who does a miracle in His name is for them. Jesus came to create a kingdom where service and sacrifice are valued, and all are welcome. We should remember these words and not draw lines between who is in and who is out. Let us accept others and be enriched by their faith. Amen. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for February 7, 2024. Today, we will be reading from Mark, Chapter 9, Verses 38-41. Teacher, John said, 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. What does it look like to be the people of the God who seeks to include all people? Offering God's love to all people was a lesson Jesus continually taught to his disciples, but it was a difficult lesson for them to understand. In verse 38, we can almost hear John's pride in his report to Jesus that they had told the man who was driving out demons in Jesus' name to stop, because he was not one of us. John Peterson, in The Message, writes, This way, we stopped him because he wasn't in our group. How might it have changed the course of history if Jesus' response had been different? What if Jesus had said, Glad that you all recognize that he wasn't from our group, and stopped him. With great thanksgiving, this was not what Jesus said. Instead, Jesus said, 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. Jesus came not to create a club where membership ranks higher than service, but he came to create a kingdom in which we live out of gratitude for God's great love unto us all. We live following Jesus' example of recognizing the last to be first and the first to be last. Service and sacrifice to be the way of life, and everyone is to be welcomed around the table. Jesus was open to anyone being a part of his team who was willing to serve in his name. During my childhood days, table conversations with our extended family were joyful and lively. Within the circle, we had a Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian. On our way home, we, the young children, would often ask questions about the differences. Mom would quickly rein us in with, Remember Jesus' words, whoever is not against us is for us, and whoever gives a cup of water in Jesus' name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. May we, too, remember Jesus' words when we might be too quick to draw the lines of who is on the inside and who is on the outside in Jesus' kingdom. Your personal worship option today is, Lord of all who turn to you, help us to accept that others have plans and ways of working that are acceptable in your sight. Persuade us graciously to receive from others that our own faith may be enriched. In Jesus' name we ask it. Amen.