John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward". Mark 9:38-41.
I suppose it is in our human nature to say that someone does not belong to us because he does not believe what we believe.
What Jesus is teaching us here is that if we truly believe in Him, the Son of God, then we can’t possibly be against Him.
Yet, two thousand years later we still differentiate between our denomination and that of others. We say that we believe in this, and they believe in that. We know we are right, and they must be wrong because …
Instead of rejoicing in what unites us, we waste time arguing and debating on what divides us.
Jesus also said: “In my Father’s house are many rooms …” John 14:2.
I’ve just realized why. It is to put each denomination in a separate room so He can have some peace and quiet without our incessant arguing.
🧡
ReplyDeleteFunny at the end there. But we are the ones making different rooms.
Yes, sadly we are the ones causing divisions.
DeleteGod bless, Sandi.
...this is the human way.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is the modern human way. Very sad.
DeleteGod bless, tom.
Some of those rooms will need soundproofing.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they will, JoeH.
DeleteGod bless you.
Never mind denomination, I was raised in a family that even argued about sect! Don't mean to point fingers, I suppose that's what mattered to their generation. GREAT IDEA about the separate rooms. (I may have laughed out loud.)
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised, Mevely, how many times people wrote to me saying that Catholics are not Christians. I never respond to such comments.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
And there are Catholics who think that their church is the only 'true' one. Why can't we all just get along :-)
DeleteThat's true also. The Catholic Church is often seen as aloof.
DeleteGod bless, Kathy.
Such a great ending, Victor! If we'd just stop to think things over, I know we would find a lot more commonalities than differences. We should all come together under the banner of Jesus' love.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
You're right in what you say, Martha. As I mentioned to Mevely above; I'm often told Catholics are not Christians.
DeleteGod bless you and your family.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteAt the time of Jesus there were no magnifiers yet... So for finding ongoing arguments about minor differences, lots of time is being wasted!
This story is rather straight and ought to be ENOUGH!
Hugs,
Mariette
It should be enough; but sadly people focus on their differences and magnify them.
DeleteGod bless you, Mariette.
😒
DeleteIt is a joy to read logic and common sense applied to HIS FAMILY, I get weary of egos that out do logic and love.
ReplyDeleteVERY GOOD visit today. Thanks for having us.
Sherry & jack
PS: Love the comments also....
ReplyDeleteIt's always so nice to have you visiting here, Jack and Sherry. Thank you so much.
DeleteGod bless you always.
One thing i love to do is explore differences. Not to argue, just to discuss and explore. At the end, you stay friends and agree to disagree.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing i say is that i hold my doctrines loosely and respect others because i'm going to spend the first hundred years in Heaven laughing about what i got wrong!
That's a good attitude, Mimi. Shame not many people do like you.
DeleteGod bless.
I remember my primary school years, when the kids from the Catholic school would laugh at us because THEY were going to heaven but we weren't. We didn't care, we knew we were all going to heaven anyway because we were good kids. I think we were all about 8 or 10 at the time.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity people have so many misunderstandings about Heaven and who would get there.
DeleteGod bless, River.