Ephesians 1:11 – In Whom We Have an Inheritance
November 29, 2014Ephesians 1:17 – Given the Knowldege of Him
December 1, 2014
Mark 9:39
39But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name that can lightly speak evil of me.
As background to this particular verse, His disciple John was bothered by a man he and the others saw casting out devils in Jesus’ name but didn’t follow them. His thinking was even though he’s doing these things, since he’s not following us we have to stop him because he’s not doing it our way, in our group.
It wasn’t so much that the person was casting out devils in the name of Jesus. They saw the man as being against them because he wasn’t part of them. Did Jesus see it that way? No. He basically had to rebuke the disciples because of their lack of revelation of the power of His name.
Jesus spoke to hundreds of people. He had 12 specific men He chose who would help usher in the power of a living Lord and Savior and establish the Church to share the good news of God’s love and grace with the world. But there were others who also received that revelation and stepped out in faith to touch lives around them.
Whether we all attend the same church isn’t the issue here. Whether we all agree on everything in the Word is not really the issue. The issue is that when we’re focused on Jesus and what He has done for us through the Cross, and we share that, we’re united with Him. He calls us to be disciples, ambassadors of reconciliation to the world. Let’s not show them a schizophrenic Christianity; a divided church. Let’s show the world a Jesus who loves them and doesn’t condemn them. Let’s show them the good news of His love and grace. Let’s not add more sticks to their heavy loads with man’s rules and regulations saying that it’s our doing that pleases God. It’s not about us—it’s all about Jesus.
Let’s be encouraged by others sharing the good news of the Gospel as they lift up His name and power to release and deliver the captives. Those who are not against Him are with us. Let’s continue to lift up Jesus and His finished work. The Lord will take care of the rest.
