Mark 9:38-50

Be Still: Help me, today, Lord, to listen carefully to what you have to say to me. Amen

Read: Mark 9:38-50

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. .......... And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another. (v 42-50)

Encounter:  This passage touches on several important issues, but in summary it's a warning to us to take our Christian living very seriously. As Peter said, ‘Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). 

Living as a Christian is a serious business, and we face significant opposition in one form or another. If we get too complacent or comfortable, we might lose our edge and, effectively, drift away from the best our Lord has for us. We cannot afford to lose our 'saltiness' - something God has given us to help us stand out and be different.

In Jesus' parable of a wedding feast (Matthew 25:1-13), five of the ten virgins were not prepared or alert when the bridegroom finally arrived and were excluded from the celebration. Effectively they were thrown out.

Reading about demon possession and ‘being thrown into hell’ (Jesus’ words, repeated three times) is not easy reading and may raise many questions but Jesus was not inclined to duck such issues or mince his words. 

There are consequences of ignoring his warnings and being complacent in his infinite love and mercy. We are, 'safe' in Jesus – but God is also a God of justice and truth, and certain Bible passages suggest that we could miss out on the reward or commendation that he wants to give us when we appear before him as Judge.

So, when Jesus talks about cutting off our hand or our foot or tearing out our eye, we do not take this literally; but it tells us, in graphic terms, to deal drastically with temptation and sin and remove ourselves from it ‘like the plague’! 

Apply:  Ask yourself if you are drifting or keeping on the alert. Seek out safe people who would encourage and challenge you in your discipleship.

Devote: Lord, I do not want to get cold or complacent. Stir up my heart and passion to serve you and fulfil your purposes for my life.