-August 4, 2022-
Good morning, happy Thursday,
“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
(Mark 9:41).
Showing kindness is something every one of can do. There are needs everywhere around us. No act of kindness big or small will ever escape our Lord’s notice or go unrewarded. The small act of giving a cup of water to a thirsty person is a big thing in the eyes of the Lord. Jesus in His humanity knew what it was like to be hungry, thirsty, tired, and sleepy. When He met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well He asked her for a drink of water.
The context of today’s verse is when John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us” (Mark 9:38). John and the other disciples thought they were doing the right thing, but they missed the point. Jesus answered them, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side” (Mark 9:39-40). In Christianity there are many Christians in many countries, and in many churches. We should rejoice when they too preach the gospel and teach the Word of God. The title of this section in my Bible is: “Jesus Forbids Sectarianism.”
It is always a joy and blessing to meet other Christians in this world. Even if their doctrine may not line up exactly with our’s. As long as they believe in Jesus, we should love them and thank the Lord for them. When we get to heaven, there will be Christians from everywhere, all praising and thanking the Lord.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:40-42, “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Each of us should say to the Lord, “Whatever I do, I do it for You.” When we show kindness to others it is just as if we are doing it for Jesus Himself. Jesus said so in Matthew 25:40, “…Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
May the Lord help us to be on His kindness patrol, and when there is a need, let us show kindness to others in Jesus’ name. Even giving a cup of cold water. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.
In the service of Jesus our King,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 