Read Mark 9:38-39. The disciples stopped the man from ministering because he was not one of them. But, we can derive from this account that the man had somehow been influenced by the Lord and knew the Lord. He had a strong faith in the Lord’s name. He had given himself to the ministry and was ministering to the most difficult cases, to the demon-possessed. The disciples were too narrow and exclusive. They denied another person the right to serve and wrecked a servant’s ministry. They kept many from ever being helped. The disciples showed favoritism toward their own number and judged a man not in their inner circle. Do you tend to discredit someone who is serving the Lord because they don’t go to your church or don’t fit into your imagery of what a servant of the Lord should look like? Ask God to help you see that He uses all kinds of people and gifts to reach others for Him.
Digging Deeper is a daily devotional based on Sunday's sermon. Go to www.northstarchurch.org/thewonderyears to watch the video of Sunday's sermon "Play Well with Others," part three of The Wonder Years series. Or go to www.northstarchurch.org/sermons to listen to the audio-only version.
