Wk 23 Day 7
Luke 9:49-50
49"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."
50"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
Sometimes we get so indignant with how people are in the way they share, preach, or encourage us about the Word. It's true that there are times that we don't agree with the "style" of the way they does things. And even maybe to the point of "opposing" what they do only because it does not go with what we think is the best. If we really get to the main point of why they do such things, we may find out that they are just also doing the work of God - only in a different way - a way in which we may not truly catch (probably because we are not the kind of audience they are supposed to preach it to!)
Jesus basically reminded John and the disciples that there will be those who will also do His work - probably not with the disciples (as who we know they are, the 12) - using His name. They are also using Jesus' name and He knew that the guy (driving out demons) was not against the teaching of the Word.
Whenever I don't think or like the way a person does things (God's work), I used to think that it's not the way to do it - or cause they're not "one of us". I have to remember to go back to the root of why they do such things - is it cause they are totally preaching opposed to the Gospel? Or is it just cause they come from a different background, or group (denomination, race, etc)? If I find out that they are still preaching the Gospel - unadulterated, non-watered down Gospel of the truth, I must not think that I am the only one who's right. We all are working together towards the spreading of the Word. Any style would just be different because we all cater to different audiences. I must just be faithful where I am planted and called to serve. Focusing on how I can be more effective in sharing the Gospel of truth in love without thinking about others' way of doing things. I sometimes get so bogged down in "minding other peoples' business" and people's comments about things that I get distracted in giving my best in hearing the voice of the Spirit deep within me. I need to change my mindset about these things.
:: Lord, You are the only one who can really help me. I pray that You will help me to see the best in everything and not to create my own assumptions on things. Help me not to mind and please people and adjusting my thinking/actions to that. But rather, help me to only do the things that would please You and what Your Spirit tells me to do. I want to please You in everything that I do.. I want to only do what YOU want me to do, not my own or others. In Jesus' name, amen.
