THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 9:46-50
“We tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” (Luke 9:49)
Here we see the disciples eager to elevate and differentiate themselves.
In order to be greater than others, we must differentiate from others.
My previous church had non-christians supporting our community work.
We were blessing others for Jesus’ sake, and they were helping us.
But they were “not one of us”, maybe we should have refused their help?
The support of non-Christians has nothing to do with ‘being saved’.
Just as our good works have nothing to do with our ‘being saved’ either.
God is at work in us and in them; we are no better, they are no worse.
We can see the help of others as a sign of God’s grace at work in them too.
We need to stop trying to differentiate and elevate ourselves from others.
Jesus has other sheep, not of our flock (John 10:16).
Some non-Christians seem more Christlike than Christians.
I am convinced that this is God at work, and we need to celebrate it!
They are ‘not far from the kingdom’ (Mark 12:34), let’s not push them away!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, it is Your grace alone that produces good in us – and in others. Help us to see signs of good in non-Christians as proof of Your grace at work in them too.