Don't Worry, Trust Jesus!

Today’s Reading:  Mark 9:33-50

Worry---that is what I thought after reading these scriptures.  Let me explain…it started off with the disciples arguing about who was the greatest among them---they were worried about each other and themselves as to who was better.  I can just hear them saying well I did this for Jesus or I know that Jesus loves me more because he asked me to do this or that.  Funny they wouldn’t tell Jesus what they were arguing about because you know he knew exactly what was said, what was thought, and they probably knew that too, but don’t we do the same?  I know I think things and even sometimes say things that I wouldn’t want Jesus to know, yet I do it anyway.  Why?  Usually because I am worried about something of the flesh---just as the disciples were doing.

We see next that the disciples were ‘worried’ about others that were doing miracles.  Maybe they thought that these people didn’t know enough about Jesus to be performing miracles.  Maybe they thought that others were not as prepared as they were to perform things in Jesus’ name.  Regardless of what they thought, they were worried that people, other than themselves, were performing miracles.

I don’t know about you, but I find myself concerned (this word sounds better than worriedJ) about things that don’t really matter, when I should be concerned only with hearing and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Listen to Jesus as he responds to all these actions.

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all.” (vs. 35)

“No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us.” (vs. 39, 40)

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness how can you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with each other.” (vs. 50)

Now Jesus said a lot more (make sure you read it all) but these things stood out to me.   Jesus was telling his disciples and he is telling us now to concentrate on him and do what we have been taught.   Quit worrying about who seems to be more important than you, quit worrying about what others are doing, quit worrying about what your flesh is telling you to do.  He wants us to serve, the world may be telling us (sometimes loudly) that we are last, that we are behind everyone else, but we have to concentrate on what Jesus is us---when we are serving---it is like serving him, hence making us first in his eyes and isn’t that what matters anyways?  I can’t speak for anyone but myself but I know that I am for Jesus and no matter what anyone ever says about me or does to me I will always be for Jesus and He knows that whether the world sees it or not.  Just as salt flavors bland food, Jesus is what gives me flavor and I so don’t want to be bland.  I want to be the salt of the earth, I want to serve and I want to love and I will do these not with everything that I have in me but with everything that God has placed in me.  I don’t know about you, but I am beginning to see things with the eyes of Christ and I am excited that he has given me this line of vision.  I feel myself pulling away from the ways of this world and the worries that are attached and more towards the will of God and that my friend is a feeling like no other!