Serving With Others

Serving with Others

Mark 9:38-41, NLT

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” 39“Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.”

Setting the Scene

These minor conflicts over leadership and discussions about being “the greatest” had implications beyond the Twelve. Here we see John and the others wanting to keep Jesus to themselves, to be a closed group as they challenged the credentials of an outsider. John, one of the inner circle of three among the disciples, was the disciple who brought up the matter. He may have been sincerely concerned about the man and his actions, or he may have felt threatened by this person who could do something that he could not—“cast out demons.” Whatever John’s motives, Jesus rebuked the disciples’ attempt to be exclusive. The disciples were wrong to assume they alone would have access to Jesus’ power. Jesus’ followers would not all look and act alike; they would be quite a diverse collection from all nations and walks of life.

Not only did the man who cast out demons serve Christ’s Kingdom in his stand against Satan, but someone doing a humble act such as offering a cup of water to a person in the name of Christ also would be serving the Kingdom. Certainly the Twelve had a special calling, but God uses all people and all gifts for furthering his Kingdom.

Getting Personal

When have you felt competitive with other churches or Christian groups?

What steps can you take to partner with other believers to serve your community in Jesus’ name?

After two thousand years of church history, Jesus’ followers seem more splintered than ever, with numerous Christian denominations and hundreds of divisive theological distinctions. And while we debate among ourselves the finer points of faith and practice, the world is going to hell. Clearly Jesus wants us to reach beyond our closed circles and work with other men and women who also follow Christ. We serve the same Savior and have a common mission. Just as the man in the story did not have to belong to the select group of disciples to be God’s servant, so people today do not have to be just like us to follow Jesus.

Talking to God

Admit your occasional desire to keep what you have with God all to yourself. Ask the Lord to help you accept others whose beliefs differ from yours but who also love and serve God. Thank him for building his church with such a variety of personalities, experiences, and spiritual traditions.