November 3
Don’t divide
John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” Mark 9:38 (NKJV)
Over the course of their adventures, the disciples ran into a man using the Lord’s name to drive demons out of people. Jesus wasn’t with them at the time, so they decided to take matters into their own hands. Predictably, they did the wrong thing. In essence, they claimed the copyright on Christ’s name and told this man to stop using it to deliver people.
It’s obvious that the disciples felt they had done the right thing here, because John goes out of his way to bring it up. They were probably expecting a pat on the back. They thought Jesus would say, “Well done! Way to protect our brand!” So imagine the surprise of Christ’s response:
“Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me…he who is not against us is on our side.” Mark 9:39-40 (NKJV)
Jesus told His disciples this wasn’t something worth dividing over. This man was different to a certain degree in that he wasn’t physically following them. But this difference wasn’t worthy of division. Ultimately, he was working toward the same goal they had, and they should have encouraged instead of discouraged him in this work.
Here’s where our own attitude can be stretched: It’s natural for us to focus on the differences in others, even to the point of being blinded to what we have in common with them. When we’re preoccupied with those differences, we tend to divide…as the disciples did here.
Jesus shows that although division is sometimes appropriate, we often make the mistake of dividing over inconsequential things. Maybe we don’t agree with the way others express their faith in Jesus. All we see are the differences. In these situations, we need to be careful to focus on what we have in common with others, and embrace and encourage them in those areas of common ground.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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