Mark 9:41-50
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward. ‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die, nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’
The world is obsessed with love. “Love changes everything” is the title of a song from the musical ‘Aspects of Love’. It is love that makes the world go round despite the efforts of the musical Cabaret to convince us that it is “money makes the world go round.” The world offers us a variety of definitions of what love looks like.
Jesus gave us a new commandment, to love one another just as He has loved us. That is a hugely difficult example to live up to. He loved people enough to call them out of their sin, and into a life of freedom through forgiveness. Then, the forgiven one is to go forward and share that love. If anyone gives even a cup of water to another in the name of Christ it changes everything.
But, if we do things that cause those with a weaker faith or no faith at all to stumble, He gives some pretty dramatic instruction, and condemnation. His suggestion of bodily amputation is not literal. But rather, we are able to stumble over many things in our life and we need avoid those things. We can cause people to stumble through bad teaching, bad behaviour, judgemental conclusions, exclusion from our gatherings…
‘A cup of water…’ Even in small actions we contribute to shaping the society and civilization we live in. Do we take time to shovel the neighbour’s plowed in driveway? Do we take time to sincerely ask how the grocery clerk is doing? Do we willingly pay the tax, even when offered an “under the table” discount for cash? Does our behaviour discourage those young in their faith to question if it’s worth it?
If we have the salty seasoning of Jesus’ spirit in us and stand up for the just rights of God’s ‘little ones’, we will enjoy peace of mind. It’s not as easy as it sounds – human nature has not wired us that way. Ask God to show you where the obstacles to sharing love in your life, through your hands, your actions, your words.
We are all “little ones”, and Jesus’ concern is for the faith of all who are His followers. We all can use a “cup of water” in His name.
Joyfully Yours 