Mark 9: 38 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.
(Observation) Jesus tells His disciples not to “hinder” anyone working a miracle in His name. Jesus follows with the principle ‘he who is not against us is for us.” The one who assists a follower of Christ “will not lose his reward.”
(Interpretation) Someone who ministers in the name of Jesus Christ, whether his service be spectacular or mundane, “will not lose his reward.” Therefore, why should a fellow servant “hinder” those good works? he should not.
(Cross-reference) 2 Corinthians 9: 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
(Testimony) When I was aged 16 years and 2 days my father died, without warning, of a heart attack. Cash was in short supply. Dad’s friend and our veterinarian R. J. Peglow came to the farm the same day and instructed my mother, in my hearing, to take me to certain stores where a new suit and shoes to wear to the funeral had been paid for. I objected saying “But how will I ever repay you?” His answer was “You wont, but someday you will do something for someone else.”
(Application) As a business associate of mine once observed, I do not take compliments well. Neither do I do well in accepting gracefully a gift from someone. I suggest to you that when someone is trying to do me a favor, most especially in the name of Jesus, I have no authority or command to resist it. On the contrary, I am warned not to “hinder” my brother, for Christ has promised that in so doing he “will not lose his reward.” How disgusting for me to act in arrogance toward the kind intentions of my brother. I would be better served to graciously accept his kindness and follow his example and “purpose in my heart” to “do something for someone else.” Now, all these years later, I have a better understanding and a greater appreciation for the wise words of Doctor Peglow: “You wont, but someday you will do something for someone else.”
What do you think? If you graciously accept your friend’s compliment or his offer to buy lunch and purpose to pass it on to “someone else,” are you not blessing two people instead of none?
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