(Mark 9:38-50) John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is for us. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44 [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, 46 [where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
(Luke 11:23) He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.
(Matthew 18:10-14) “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.]
12 “What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? 13 If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 14 So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!It is God's will:
- that we do not hate other Christians (Mt.18:10-11)
- that we consider all believers as part of God's family (Mk.9:38-40)
- that we do not hinder people serving the Lord (Mk.9:38-40, Lk.9:50)
- that we do not cause other believers to stumble (Mt.18:6, Mk.9:42, Lk.17:1-2)
- that we do not stumble, and if we do, we need to remove ourselves from the tempting situations (Mt.18:8-9, Mk.9:43-48)
- that we are at peace with other believers (Mk.9:50)
- that we have salt in ourselves (Mk.9:49-50)
- that we are for the Lord (Mk.9:40, Lk.11:23)
- that we gather with the Lord (Lk.11:23)
- that we search out those who have strayed in order to bring them (back) to the Lord (Mt.18:12)
- that we rejoice when someone becomes a believer, or when a believer who has strayed returns to the Lord (Mt.18:13)
- it is God's will that no one should perish, and it is God's will that all believers will not perish (Mt.18:14)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for Your most gracious love. Help us to share Your love with everyone, and most especially help us to love and get along with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Guide us towards unity and peace. Give us patience and grace towards each other, in order to bring us closer together. Help us to be working as a team, all the while equipping each other, and lifting each other up in prayer and with encouragement.
May we be constantly open to sharing the good news in order to bring people to salvation. And give us wisdom, understanding, and a special kind of love in order to reach out to those believers who are struggling or those who have back-slide in their faith. Help us not to be critical, suspicious or aloof towards anyone. May we all seek to be salt which acts as a preservative, with a flavorful presence in order to glorify You. Amen.
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