Mark 9:38-41 (ESV Strong's)
(Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us)
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
Tag: Division in the Body is Unhealthy
Imagine your left leg deciding to reject your right leg. That would be unhealthy! The above verses are talking about how believers, within the Body of Christ, need to be one. Jesus would actually, before His death, pray for this:
John 17:23 (ESV Strong's)
I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
In the top verses we see the disciples demonstrating their territorial tendencies. This is something that was not limited to their day and age. Today’s churches are found, at times, across the street from each other. We have members rotate from one church to the other over simple preferences. We are constantly dividing and have the attitude of the disciples that says,
“They are not following us.” Jesus makes the point that says, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”
Believers need to embrace other believers. Jesus died for us to be one, not divided over ministry emphasis.
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