Mark 9:50 "Salt is good: but if the salt
have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves,
and have peace one with another."
This verse is the culmination of a message given by Christ after a statement had been made to Him concerning the attitude toward others. "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us." (Mark 9:38) John did not think the other person should be allowed to cast out devils because he did not walk with them. Jesus answered with great wisdom, "He that is not against us is on our part."
Whether we think it to be right or wrong, there are many varieties of names under which Christians identify themselves. Whether we agree with the doctrine of others or not, we must be very careful in the manner we treat them. If they belong to the Lord, they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I don't want this devotional to be about denominational differences; rather this is about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I pray all my devotions are focused on Him.
There is the possibility that we can become so headstrong that we lose our saltness. I'm not speaking of compromising doctrine, but the manner in which we look at others. There was a time in the book of Acts when a counsel was called in Jerusalem. Peter came to speak of the manner in which the Lord had dealt with the household of Cornelius, a Gentile centurion. A very beautiful statement was made at that counsel: "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:11) Notice the wording used by Peter, "we shall be saved, even as they." Every child of God has been brought to the family of God purely and simply by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is not because one believed the right thing or was able to figure things out more correctly. It is not that one is better than the other. We all are saved by the grace of God.
You may ask: What is the reason for my rambling? I'm glad you asked. We should never allow our salt to lose its saltiness. Yes, we are to stand firm on those things the Lord has revealed to us. But we also should be open to listen to others. And most of all, we should never cause someone else to be hesitant to share with us those things in which they are founded. May we have salt within ourselves and peace with one another.
This verse is the culmination of a message given by Christ after a statement had been made to Him concerning the attitude toward others. "And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us." (Mark 9:38) John did not think the other person should be allowed to cast out devils because he did not walk with them. Jesus answered with great wisdom, "He that is not against us is on our part."
Whether we think it to be right or wrong, there are many varieties of names under which Christians identify themselves. Whether we agree with the doctrine of others or not, we must be very careful in the manner we treat them. If they belong to the Lord, they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I don't want this devotional to be about denominational differences; rather this is about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I pray all my devotions are focused on Him.
There is the possibility that we can become so headstrong that we lose our saltness. I'm not speaking of compromising doctrine, but the manner in which we look at others. There was a time in the book of Acts when a counsel was called in Jerusalem. Peter came to speak of the manner in which the Lord had dealt with the household of Cornelius, a Gentile centurion. A very beautiful statement was made at that counsel: "But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:11) Notice the wording used by Peter, "we shall be saved, even as they." Every child of God has been brought to the family of God purely and simply by the blood of Jesus Christ. It is not because one believed the right thing or was able to figure things out more correctly. It is not that one is better than the other. We all are saved by the grace of God.
You may ask: What is the reason for my rambling? I'm glad you asked. We should never allow our salt to lose its saltiness. Yes, we are to stand firm on those things the Lord has revealed to us. But we also should be open to listen to others. And most of all, we should never cause someone else to be hesitant to share with us those things in which they are founded. May we have salt within ourselves and peace with one another.