Our expansive God
John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw a man who was driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn’t belong to our group’.
‘Do not try to stop him’, Jesus told them, ‘because no one who performs a miracle in my name will be able soon afterwards to say evil things about me. For whoever is not against us is for us. I assure you that anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to me will certainly receive a reward.’ (verses 38-41)
Read Mark 9:30-41
‘But they are different.’ Not only Jesus’ disciples had difficulty handling groups of people who were different; we can find that difficult too. A person, a group, a race of people, a church is different from us. Too easily we take the next step and believe that they are wrong and outside the arms of God. How widely do God’s arms stretch? Only as far as those of our group, of those who think like us? How expansive is God?
Jesus had to correct the narrow outlook of his disciples. Perhaps he needs to correct our narrow outlook too. He opens our minds to the expansiveness of God, to his unlimited grace. ‘Whoever welcomes . . . whoever is not against us … anyone who gives . . .’ Jesus says.
Let us praise God for whatever person or group uses the name of Jesus for good purposes.
Lord Jesus, forgive me my judgmental attitude, my narrowness of thought and deed. Let your grace move me to openness, acceptance and kindness towards those who are different from me. Amen.
by Ray Schulz, in ‘New Strength for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1998)
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