For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
You will not stop people from sinning by talking about sin. Those who are wise shut their mouths and move on.
It is not by our own might that we will obtain victories that matter. If we want to have victory in those battles which are truly important we will rely on God. It is God who gives us victory.
The disciples argued about which of them was the greatest. Jesus’ answer to them was basically, “If you are arguing about being the greatest, you aren’t.” The only way to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven is to put others ahead of yourself. Greatness in Heaven comes from serving others, but if you strive to be better than others, you are failing.
I have never heard the next bit discussed in terms of Jesus’ teaching on greatness, but I think it is related. When John told Jesus that they had stopped someone from using His name to cast out demons, Jesus told them not to do that. I believe that John, speaking for the other disciples as well, was saying, “Well, at least we are greater than this other guy who didn’t even have Your permission to use Your name.” Jesus’ answer was twofold. First, everyone has His permission to use His name to do good. We do not need some special initiation to become followers of Jesus and to receive the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a presage to Paul being chosen as an Apostle later (this whole thing requires more “unpacking” than I have time for today).
The second point is the one most often covered when this passage is discussed. Those who strive to do good in the name of Jesus are all on the same side. In many ways what Jesus said here is reflected by what Paul said in the first chapter of Philippians. “Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice.” We should not denigrate those preaching the Gospel, the message about Christ, even if we believe they are doing so out of selfish motives.
When we make offerings to God they are to be from the best of what we have. If we give to charity things that we have no more use for, that is not to our credit. On the other hand if we give to God from the first of what we receive, God will reward us and provide for our needs. I always have trouble finding the words for this, because I either make too little of giving, it comes out as if we buy our way into heaven, or it comes out as “prosperity gospel” (which isn’t really gospel at all).
The government takes its taxes before we spend for any of our other needs. Shouldn’t the same be true for God?