Living in the Spirit

September 25, 2021

Scripture Reading: Mark 9:38-50

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 deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. –Mark 9:38-41

Jesus’ statement, Whoever is not against us is for us speaks to the political nature of the world. We may say we do not like politics, but politics has always been woven through people’s interactions. Unfortunately, we tend to segregate politics to our elections and political parties. In doing so, we miss much of the backstory that rules our country.  Who pulls the elected officials’ strings?

Please note that Jesus is not describing a member of a silent majority. He is talking about a man who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus. The man was actively engaged in serving God in the name of Jesus. There is no mention of the man receiving acclaim or benefits for his actions.  Fred Craddock addresses this issue in his book Overhearing the Gospel*.  How we live, and act may tell the story of God with Us more than perfect attendance pins from Sunday school or higher education degrees that never get past the ivory walls of academia. We are called to serve God in the world. Jesus described this in his closing prayer found in John 17:14-16,

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.

This idea is sometimes described as being in the world but not of the world. Therefore, we dedicate ourselves to serving in the Kingdom of God, where God’s love rules and creates better lives for all the people of the world.

Prayer: God, grant us the courage to practice your Love in all aspects of our lives. Amen.

*First published in 1978, it is still available in an updated format.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.