The One Year New Testament

April 20

Mark 9:30-50

Mark 9:30-50

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

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, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

42 “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 around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 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. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 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, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 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.”

Reflection

Jesus does not want his disciples to lead with the same oppressive approach as the political and religious leaders around them. A leader in Christ’s kingdom is a person who is willing to be the “servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Godly leaders, therefore, must be people of humility. This quality requires that we do not boast in or rely on our own strength; instead we rely on him who is powerful and infinitely capable (cf. 2 Cor. 1:8–9). Though it feels like weakness, humility is actually deeply powerful. It is the path Jesus himself took when suffering and dying for us.

2 Corinthians 11:1-6

2 Corinthians 11:1-6

I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.

Reflection

The church has been “betrothed” to one husband (2 Cor. 11:2), and we await the day of our marriage celebration at the bridegroom’s return (Rev. 19:7–9). There is perhaps no greater illustration of intimacy with God. God’s deep and affectionate love for the church moves us to worship, but it also reveals the darkness of our idolatry (false worship). Sin is like adultery, as the Old Testament prophets made clear time and again. Though Paul wants to present the church as a pure virgin to Christ (2 Cor. 11:2), its people are deceived and polluted by false apostles. When God’s redeemed people embrace other spirits, different “gospel” messages, and even a different Jesus (v. 4), they are committing adultery.

We ourselves commit spiritual adultery, and it’s far more subtle than we think. When we fail to believe the gospel we not only doubt the truth and goodness of God; we place our faith in a different “good news.” We ask something (or someone) to do what only the gospel is capable of doing. What other “good news” do you sometimes believe? What other counterfeit hope captures your love? The key to loyalty is to know that Christ’s sincere and pure devotion to you is far stronger than your devotion to him (v. 3). When we were unacceptable and at our worst, he united us to himself with his faithful love. Christ’s commitment to his bride is on full display at the cross. As we consider his great love for us, it will produce in us an increasingly sincere and pure loyalty to him.

Psalm 59:17

Psalm 59:17

17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.

Thoughts For Prayer

Remember that the foundation of your relationship with God is his faithfulness to you, not your faithfulness to him. This does not excuse our sin, but it prevents us from thinking that our obedience is the basis of his love. Pray that your heart will be strengthened for obedience by this reminder of God’s steadfast, faithful love.

Missions Prayer Requests More

  • April 20, 2024

    Supported Workers: Fieldstone Counseling

    Country: United States of America

    Fieldstone is praising the Lord for their ministry partners. Their partnerships with churches, Christian schools and universities, businesses, and ministry organizations sustain their work. Pray for continued growth in this network of partnerships. Pray for their counselors as they offer counseling services and gospel-centered content to these organizations. They are grateful to come alongside these ministries in the work.

    Vietnam (Asia). Population: 99,497,680 Believers: 1.8%. A growing, witnessing Church is emerging from years of persecution. The Vietnamese diaspora is seeing many become believers. These converts then bring the gospel back to Vietnam with them. There is even a fast-growing missionary vision spreading among the churches of Vietnam! Pray for the Holy Spirit to keep fanning these flames of spiritual passion, all for the maturation of the Vietnamese Church and so that Jesus might be known through the entire nation. From Operation World DVD-ROM 2010 and www.operationworld.org