Be Great By Serving Like a Child
August 28, 2022
Commentary
In this passage, Jesus teaches important lessons for Christian living. John told Jesus that they had seen someone casting out demons in His name and tried to stop him (v. 38). The disciples showed jealousy and a judgmental attitude. Jesus corrected them, saying, “For he that is not against us is on our part” (vv. 39–40). He taught them not to reject others who are serving in His name. This reminds us to avoid pride and division, and to recognize those who truly follow Christ, even if they are different from us, learning to value unity and love among all believers who honor His name, growing together in faith and encouraging one another in truth. We must love others sincerely.
Jesus then spoke about the seriousness of sin (vv. 42–48). He used strong examples, saying if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin, it is better to remove it than to be led away from God. These images show how seriously we must deal with sin in our lives. Our actions, our steps, and what we look at all matter. God calls us to examine our lives carefully and remove anything that leads us away from Him, choosing holiness and obedience in every area, with a sincere desire to please Him and walk in righteousness daily with faithful hearts.
Finally, Jesus reminded them about true greatness. The world says greatness comes from power and being served, but Jesus taught that greatness comes through humility and serving others. True humility means knowing who we are before God and giving ourselves to help others. When we live with this heart, our lives reflect Christ’s love. God calls us to live differently, to serve faith-fully, and to honor Him through humble and obedient lives each day, showing kindness, patience, and grace to everyone we meet along the way in our lives.
Application
As I examine my heart and actions. Do I judge others or accept them in Christ? Am I dealing seriously with sin in my life? Do I choose humility and serve others daily? Teach me to love sincerely, turn from sin, and live with a humble heart, serving others and honoring You in all I do. Guide me to walk faithfully daily.
Mark 9:38–50 (NET)
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.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ’s name will never lose his reward.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched. 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
The Best Selling Books on Humility
Do you have humility like the man who wrote the best-selling books, “Humility and How I Attained It” and “The Ten Most Humble Men in the World and How I Chose The Other Nine.” (Source Unknown).