For whoever is not against us is for us. – Mark 9:40
As written in the post “Servant Attitude” the emphasis should be to serve others. By living this way, we bring more to society than personal recognition. We bring acceptance, appreciation, and affirm others as a child of God.
As the song Come To the Table by Sidewalk Prophets points out, grace starts from the outside looking in. It meets us where we are to help us win. Everyone can come to the table and take their place beside the Savior.
Jesus and the disciples traveled through Galilee and then into Capernaum. As we read Mark 9:30-41, the priority was to focus more on teaching so they became more secluded rather than available to the people. Again Jesus tells the disciples of His impending death but after three days He would rise. They continued to struggle with what Jesus meant and were afraid to bring it up.
During their travels, an argument ensued about being the greatest. Their concept of greatness was more in a worldly sense for the disciples including being a great military leader, a king, or person of great wealth. For Jesus, greatness was in being a servant. That anyone who wants to be first had to be last and servant of all (v. 35).
Most in society today see greatness in the same way as the disciples saw it. Being the best meant putting most of their time and effort into personal achievements like being a great student, employee, or boss but rarely equating greatness in the way Jesus describes here.
Jesus emphasized the need for us to have a servant attitude in our daily living with our friends, neighbors, spouse, or co-workers. By living with these characteristics, we would bring more to society than personal recognition.
Also into today’s passage, the disciples saw a person outside their group driving out demons in Jesus’ name and they told him to stop but Jesus told them not to stop him (v. 39). In the same way, there may be times when we are critical of others because they are a part of a group that looks at things differently or worships in a different way.
Jesus explains that whoever is not against us is for us (v. 40). If people or certain denominations do not worship exactly like we do, be thrilled that we can always feel a togetherness because of Christ. Individuals and churches may differ in convictions or practice but there is one common thread that binds us; the power of Christ in what we believe and how we live.
The Holy Spirit can include a wide variety of opinions and thoughts. Let us be able to empathize with others by accepting them. We can take the first step to setting things right or reconciling any differences. We can accept, appreciate, and affirm everybody because God meets us where we are and gives grace to all.
Grace is God’s gift and is always available like a flowing stream of water that keeps coming and coming. The photo below of a flowing Stream that was taken at Garvan Woodland Gardens near Hot Springs Arkansas.
This day with You Lord, we pray for being inclusive and know that a wide variety of opinions and thoughts are accepted. You meet us where we are and give grace to all. Help us today to accept, appreciate and affirm others with a servant attitude like You. Amen.
Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. – Joel 1:2-3
Brought out in the post “A Trace of Faith” is how just a little faith leads to something big. We learn that it grows in our heart and soul to eventually overpower the negatives that limit our potential.
In order to receive the power of faith, we must first believe. An inspiring reality TV series from 1998 – 2004 called “It’s A Miracle” explores true stories of people who experienced miracles during their lifetime. It’s available on Amazon Prime Video at this Link.
In one episode, a woman named “Becky Hobbs” and her band members were traveling on the road between gigs. A voice had told her the night before to be careful. Her group was on the road the next day when her heart rate started to increase and the voice the night before flashed into her mind. This startled her to look up and over to her right as they were pulling out onto the highway, she noticed an oncoming truck. Because she was prepared from the voice the night before, she quickly alerted the driver so the group escaped sure death.
The incident inspired her to write the song Angels Among Us that was eventually recorded by the country group Alabama. Take inspiration from this song today and be on alert for amazing true stories in the days ahead!
This day with God will be amazing because we will gain momentum today from reading Mark 9:14-29. Like a small seed growing into a huge tree or a tiny spark growing into a raging fire, it only takes a trace of faith to enter the mind and grow in our hearts. Eventually this small trace of faith will multiply to crowd out the negatives so that there is only the overwhelming power of faith.
In today’s reading, Jesus returns from the mountaintop and the disciples are involved in trying to cast out a demon from a boy who had been stricken for a long time. The boy was having convulsions but the disciples were helpless and ineffective. Once Jesus takes over, the demons inside the boy were driven out.
So we learn that in order to receive the power, we must first believe. As Jesus explains in verse 23, all things are possible for one who believes. After this miracle, they go indoors and the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon from the boy?” Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
What specific steps can we take to grow our faith and improve our prayer life? One idea I had recently was to pray while taking walks in my neighborhood. The photo above was taken on one of those early morning walks as the sun rises.
This day with You Lord, we now turn on the power of prayer. We have confidence that You are big enough to meet all our needs; to satisfy our souls. BIGGER than we could have ever imagined. Like the doubting disciples who could not heal the boy, we sometimes have doubts but You give us confidence. You are with us and prepare us for each day with just a trace of faith. Amen.
Presented at this Link or by clicking on the video below are some ideas for getting rest for your soul. You were made to work and God made you to be productive using the strengths He has gifted you with but you were also made to enjoy the fruits of this work.
Worship online via FUMC at this link https://firstwaco.com/ or Download the free app in the App Store or on Google Play. Look for First Waco.
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This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 