Mark 9:41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.

The four verses ending with this one fairly shout against the various denominational rivalries that are so evident in the Church today. We are so vigilant against “heresy” that we cut off our brothers! We are not to swallow just any line – after all, Jesus said that we are to evaluate people on the basis of the fruit they bear (Matthew 7:16-20) – but we must realize that anyone who claims Christ is closer to us than someone who claims any other allegiance. It strikes me that anyone whose focus is on enmity, “us vs. them,” has missed the heart of God. There are many who do not belong to Christ, but that is a tragedy; there is no room to gloat that we are the “in crowd.” I’m not talking about the many places where there is active opposition to the Gospel, (which increasingly includes the US) but rather the effort by one group to feel superior by putting down another. That violates the principle of differing gifts and functions in the same Body, as expressed in 1 Corinthians 12, not to mention many other passages.

This particular verse hits my wife and me pretty strongly, because we have been very well received in this town, in many cases because we follow Christ, I think, yet we have had few “converts” in over 30 years of ministry. That’s something we’ve got to release to God! We are to continue to sow the seed of the Word faithfully and pray for the harvest, but we aren’t to go running around trying to decide who is part of the harvest and who isn’t. I’m sure our circle of influence is far wider than we realize! I am called as God’s instrument in engendering faith, but I am not called as a “faith inspector.” I am to proclaim the pure Word of the Lord in all love and power, and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting and whatever else is called for. I have the assurance of this verse that those who respond well to us will not lose their reward, but exactly what that means I’ve got to leave up to God.

Father, I do ask for clear harvest this year. You have allowed us to plant a great deal of seed, and I believe a lot of it has germinated. May this be a year of fruition and harvest indeed, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!