Musings of a Mentor - For something completely different!

Musings of a Mentor

Oct. 1, 2006

For something completely different!

Posted in General

I don't usually do religious posts. But today's Gospel reading really struck a cord with me today.

At that time, John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

I love this part of the Gospel because it lets me know others don't have to be part of 'my little group' and follow Christ the same way I do, to call upon the power of Christ. It also lets me see that others of different faiths who treat me with kindness because I belong to Christ will be rewarded.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
This sentence caused me to really think about my actions. Do I put up walls between others and God? Do I try and tell people their ways are not good enough?

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye
than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,
where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"
What struck me the most here was Jesus wasn't talking about some sinners out there. He was talking to his beloved disciples. It is easy to think about those sinners in an abstract way, but here he was talking to his closest friends and telling them that if they get in the way of others finding Him, of discouraging them, they would pay dearly.

So, this passage calls me to be accepting, assume others are doing their best, accept kindness where ever I find it, and above all not to assume because someone finds God differently than I do that they are wrong. I need to make sure I am not building up walls between God and others.

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Oct. 4, 2006 - Tagged!

Posted by mamma1420

Tell everyone what you would do if you were on WifeSwap! What qualities about your family would you want others to share in?

Enjoy Your Blessings
Jessica

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I hope my blog inspires dreamers to dream big and leaves wisdom seekers a little wiser. :)