Daily Devotional • Mark 9:38

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."

- Mark 9:38

John watched the guy perform a miracle. The unknown man had done something he, John, could not do… cast out a demon (Mark 9:14-19).

And John wants him to stop. John seems offended. Why? Because the unknown man was not "following us..." (vs. 38).

Listen to how Jesus responds to John's small-mindedness; "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" (vs. 38-39).

Here is a tremendous truth that too many in the church have forgotten: many are the branches of Christ's church.

Too many of us think "no good can be done except in the company of those who are just like us." Those who think like us. Dress like us. Sing like us. Baptize like us. Serve like us.

This narrow-mindedness has caused many in the church to fall prey to ecclesiastical idolatry; the love of church form and function above the Savior.

Friend, be on your guard against such idolatry.

Your denomination has not arrived.

Your theology, no matter how sound, is still imperfect.

Your methods, no matter how good, are still impaired.

Jesus commands us to be thankful for the good works, whosoever does them!

As Bishop Ryle once said, "Better a thousand times that the work should be done by other hands than not done at all."

Your prayer today, "Lord, help me to understand in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity."

Press on,
Pastor Chris