Mark 9:40.

Verse of the Day Devotion.  Mark 9:40

“For he who is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:40 

In verses Mark 9:33-37, Jesus spoke to the disciples regarding their discussion on who was greatest. And this somewhat continues regarding non-disciples. John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to hinder him because he was not following us.” Mark 9:38. Because of the special and intimate relationship between Jesus and the twelve, John felt it important to notify Him of someone who was using Jesus’ name and power without the authority or approval to do so. Now it is apparent that this man knew of Jesus, or even knew Him from some time back, for He understood the power His name had. And John also told Jesus that he attempted to hinder what the man was doing because he was not a follower of Jesus as he and the others were.

However, Jesus did not approve of this. “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.” Mark 9:39. What He was telling them was if they see this person again, do not hinder him. Jesus opposed the narrow exclusivism of the twelve in telling them only Jesus or themselves had the right to do these things. In fact, the actions of the disciples were an abuse of their authority because Jesus, who actually had the authority, told them they were wrong. Then He adds this thought. “for there is no one who shall perform a miracle in My name and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.” What He was saying was if anyone perform miracles, something man himself could never do, and does it in my name they will never deny or speak evil of Him. This is in contrast to those who do not do it in Christ’s name, but in another’s name or through their own name which will ultimately result in no miracle at all.

And then we come to our focus verse. “For he who is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:40. Few if any of us are perfect in regard to our understanding of scripture. There are many that may be wrong in some aspect of their presentation or teaching, yet they still set forth Jesus in some manner. We must let God deal with them in a way He chooses. Paul saw many men preaching Jesus from many motives, yet he could rejoice that Christ was preached. “Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.” Philippians 1:15-18. There are some who teach/preach Christ in ways that are not the best, “even from envy and strife.” I have sadly seen this in several places.

Two principles of immense importance are here laid down: First, no one will readily speak evil of Jesus who has the faith to do a miracle in His name; and second, if such a person cannot be supposed to be against Him, we are to consider him for Him. Let it be carefully observed that our Lord does not say this man should not have followed them, nor yet that He was indifferent whether he did or not; but simply teaches how such a person was to be regarded as one who honors His name and a promoter of His cause.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries, Inc.

Luke 9:50

Verse of the Day Devotion Luke 9:50 

“But Jesus said to him, Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.” – Luke 9:50

Our focus verse, and the one before it is a follow up of the prior three verses where the disciples asked Jesus who among them was the greatest.  “And an argument arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest.” Luke 9:46. And then Jesus adds, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great.” Luke 9:48. This last part of verse 48 obviously was not understood by His disciples. What Jesus said in this last verse, John responded to with the following. “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to hinder him because he does not follow along with us.” Luke 9:49.  The depth of John’s, and probably some of the other disciples as well, of his incomprehension  of what Jesus had just told them is unconceivable. 

Think about this.  John had witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus where His glory was manifest to them, and where  a voice from heaven, God the Father, said, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” Luke 9:35b.  Nevertheless, John’s words of concern not only contradict Jesus’ message, but are actually seen as a response to Jesus.  Jesus had basically negated conventional ways by declaring that “for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great.” Luke 9:48. Then, just after this, John contradicts Jesus by declaring “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to hinder him because he does not follow along with us.” Luke 9:49.

What John did here was to place himself and the others as greater than this one who was casting our demons.  The fact that this one was able to cast demons out in Jesus’ name is evidence that God approved of what he was doing.  Remember, it is through the power of God that anyone has the ability to cast out these evil spirits.  It is God working through this man that he succeeded in this work.  We see this in the story of the sons of Sceva, showing it is the power of God and not our own. “And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” And seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Acts 19:11-16.  

Now to our focus verse.  God has called all who are Christians to do His work. John and the others wanted to forbid this other person from casting out demons, in Jesus name, because He was not one of them, the twelve. And they believed this even though he had shown himself to be successful in his work for Christ.  Mark shows this by including these words of Jesus. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me.” Mark 9:39.  If God worked through him to cast out demons, then he was on their side, and more importantly, on God’s side.  Therefore, Jesus said the following in a mild corrective way to tell them they are not the only ones who will do these things.  “But Jesus said to him, Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.” Luke 9:50.  It is important that we do not hinder anyone who is doing the work of God simply because we are not in the same group as they are.  Jesus works through all who are followers of Him.  Let us not look down on anyone whom God is working through in this world.  We may not know them, but He does, and that is what matters.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Matthew 18:21

Verse of the Day Devotion Matthew 18:21 

“Then Peter came and said to Him,  Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” – Matthew 18:21

Jesus had just finished a teaching on what must be done if our brother sins against us.  He starts out with telling His disciples what to do if this happens. “And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer.” Matthew 18:15-17. It is important that if a brother sins against us, we are to go to him alone and reprove him, letting him know what he has done. And if he does not listen to you, bring two or three believers with you, ones this man listens to with the hope he will then listen to you. However, if he does not, then bring it to the church so they can speak with him.  When it gets this far, and he does not listen, then he is to be treated like a non-believer and tax collector.  Both these expressions stand for people outside the people of God, people who have sinned and not repented, and that is the position of the sinning brother. He has made his choice, and the brother sinned against must respect his decision. It is usually said that the passage speaks of excommunication from the church, but that is not what the text says; to you is very personal. Whatever be the case vis-à-vis the church, to the brother against whom he has sinned he is as an outsider.  

Now, after this teaching Peter asks Jesus a question as seen in our focus verse. “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21b.  Peter, wishing to appear especially forgiving and benevolent, asked Jesus if forgiveness was to be offered seven times.  The Jewish rabbis at the time taught that forgiving someone more than three times was unnecessary. This idea is found in the book of Amos, “Thus says the LORD, For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.” Amos 1:3. Now this verse was pointing at Damascus, but we see the same basic verse pointing to other nations: verse 6 for Gaza, verse 9 regarding Tyre and verse 13 regarding Ammon.  The idea was that after three times they would not be forgiven. This then became a maxim among the Jews never to forgive more then three times.  However, Jesus responds in a surprising, and I am sure a shocking way to Peter’s question. “Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:22.  Jesus replaces seven times with seventy times seven, or 490 times. 

Now, this is not an arithmetic issue that after 490 offense, forgiveness was not necessary. It is a way of saying that for Jesus’ followers forgiveness is to be unlimited. For them forgiveness is a way of life. Bearing in mind what they have been forgiven, they cannot withhold forgiveness from any who sin against them. “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14-15. By saying we are to forgive those who sin against us seventy times seven, Jesus was not limiting forgiveness to 490 times, a number that is, for all practical purposes, beyond counting. Christians with forgiving hearts not only do not limit the number of times they forgive; they continue to forgive with as much grace the thousandth time as they do the first time. Christians alone are capable of this type of forgiving spirit because the Spirit of God lives within us, and it is He who provides the ability to offer forgiveness over and over, just as God forgives us over and over.

This is such an important thought. No matter what anyone does to us, and as many times as they do it, it in incumbent upon us to forgive each and every time. “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-29. This is the love God has for us, and He expects us to exhibit this love to our fellow man. “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Mark 11:25-26.

And lastly, this love should be for everyone, including our enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Revelation 2:4

Verse of the Day Devotion:  Revelation 2:4 

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” – Revelation 2:4

In Revelation chapters two and three we see letters to seven churches in Asia, those being Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.  The apostle John is writing to these seven churches regarding their current situation. Our focus verse refers to the Church of Ephesus.  He starts by describing their positive attributes.  “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake and have not grown weary.”  Revelation 2:2-3.  He knows the works they do and how they toil long and hard.  The idea here is excessive labor where they work incredibly hard to do the work they are called to do.  They also do not tolerate evil people who attempt to cause trouble within the church and when anyone claims to be an apostle, they test them to see if they are truly apostles. 

He speaks highly of them in regards to their works,  However, there is one thing that he has an issue with which is laid out in our focus verse, “‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4.  Now, this statement can be looked at in several ways, and in my studies I see two that stand out.  One is their love for the Savior/God and the other is their love for each other.  I believe he is speaking of both.  They had lessoned the love they had at first for God and His people.. It was less glowing and ardent then when they started.  They were not as passionate and enthusiastic as they had been before and thus was seen in how they conducted themselves. 

When Jesus was asked which commandment was the most important, he said this.  “Jesus answered, The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31.  To Him, love is the most important attribute to show.  And this love is to be exhibited to all, God and our fellow man.  But to the Ephesians, it was the work they did that was most important.

I have met many who work very hard in service to the church and they endure much pain and suffering in the process.  However, they do not love God as they used to and neither their fellow man.  Too many times I have seen very knowledgeable Christians who are very learned in the scriptures and Christian concepts; however this is their major focus.  They spend more time on learning and showing everybody what they know, and not enough time in the concepts of love.  And this is what John was showing the Ephesians. 

Let everyone of us examine ourselves deeply and see if we have fallen into this error.  There is nothing wrong with doing good works.  We are called not to give credence to evil deeds.  However, if we do these things while our love decreases for God and His people, we need to look at what has gone wrong and make some adjustments in our lives.  If we truly love God and our neighbor as ourselves, then good deeds will follow.  However, if we do things because we have to and not because we get to, then love begins to lessen.  Focus on love first, and all the other things will happen naturally.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Mark 11:25

Verse of the Day Devotion: Mark 11:25 

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.” – Mark 11:25

This idea is found in various places in the New Testament.  We are called to forgive others if we have anything against someone else so that we can be forgiven.  Jesus mentioned it also in the Lord’s prayer, where He spoke of asking God to forgive, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12.  He attached our forgiveness to how we forgive.  And then a couple verses down He leaves no question of what is intended.  “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:14-15. 

The main reason Jesus came here was so He could pay the penalty we incurred because of sin.  And the only way this could have been done was to have someone who is without sin pay that penalty.  For we read in Romans the following, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.  We all deserve death for we all sinned.  However, one who has never sinned came here and paid our debt by dying on our behalf.  His love was so great for all of us He suffered through the most terrible and humiliating form of death imaginable, crucifixion.  This form of death was designed to cause the most pain possible over the longest period of time.  Many people endured this torture for over a week, while being humiliated due to their nakedness.  Peter put it this way, “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth, and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:22-24. 

So, as we can see, Jesus paid the penalty we could never pay.  He did what was necessary by dying for us so that we may be forgiven of our sins.  Therefore, this is why we are called to forgive the sins of others.  We should love others as He loves us.  “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14.  And just as we see with Jesus, no one can carry his love for his friend farther than when he gives up his life.  In other words, he gives up everything that he has.  And forgiveness of wrongs is the greatest gift He gave us, and He commands us to do the same.  

And note what our focus verse says.  “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.” Mark 11:25.  It is not just to forgive those who ask, but to forgive anyone of any wrong done to us.  And Jesus exhibited this in the greatest way possible when he said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:36.  They had not asked for forgiveness, for He was still on the cross.  But He asked for His Father to forgive them anyway.  And this is the greatest example of what our focus verse says, when you are praying, forgive anyone who has done you wrong.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Romans 8:31

Verse of the Day Devotion: Romans 8:31 

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:31   

The apostle Paul has just declared the assurance those who love God have, that everything will work toward our good.  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”  Romans 8:28-30.  Everything will definitely, without question, work toward our good if we place our trust in God.  He knew we would give our lives to Him, therefore He predestined us to be conformed to Christ. And because we are in His image, we are called to do His work on this earth, just as Christ was called to die for us.  And because of this, we are declared not guilty because of the work Jesus did on the cross.  And because we are justified, we will be glorified for He has already decreed it so.

Now we come to our focus verse.  “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31.  He starts out his answer to this rhetorical question with the following.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32.  He has already freely given to us His Son, His only begotten Son, to pay the penalty for our sins.  If He did this, would He not also give us all things?  Because we are now justified due to the gift of His Son, we are now considered His children. “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” Roman 8:15-17. 

Then Paul asks a series of, again, rhetorical questions to solidify his point.  “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;” Romans 8:33.  No one can legitimately bring a charge against us because we have already been justified: He has paid the penalty for our sins.  He then asks, “who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:34.  Jesus died for us, then rose from the dead and is at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf declaring, in essence, ‘ The penalty has been paid.’  And lastly. “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 8:35.  The answer is found in the last two chapters of Romans 8.  “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39. 

So,  in answer to the question in our focus verse;  If God is for us, who can be against us?  People may not like us and plan evil against us, however, they can do nothing unless God allows it.  And if He does, then it is for our good.  But ultimately, they can do nothing that will cause us permanent harm, for our eternity has already been set.  Our sins have been forgiven, we have been justified by the shed blood of Christ, and He has already decreed we will be glorified and spend all eternity with our Heavenly Father and Jesus the Christ.  If anyone is against us, then it really does not matter.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.

Romans 8:31

Verse of the Day Devotion: Romans 8:31 

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” – Romans 8:31   

 Paul starts out this chapter with the following verse, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1.  And why is this true?  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:2.  Christ freed us from condemnation by His death on the cross.  This is how He set us free. 

In the gospel of John, we read, “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32.  It is the truth of the gospel, if believed that will set us free from the law of sin and death.  The Jews then asked how can you set us free if we have never been enslaved.  Jesus then answers as follows.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:34-36.     

Now, as a result of being free through Christ, we will also be hated.  “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” Matthew 10:22.  He also says, “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matthew 24:9. We will be hated and persecuted.  We will suffer for the cause of Christ.  It is really showing itself now, what with all the limitations placed on Christianity that is applied to no other, particularly Islam which hates us and shows it openly.  Jesus warned us well ahead of time regarding this. 

However, Paul declares the following in our focus verse, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:32-35. Jesus, who died for our reconciliation who now sits at the right hand of God, intercedes for us.  We may have to go through the trials and persecution, just as many throughout history has.  Look at what Paul suffered.  Look at what many Christians in China, North Korea and the Islamic countries endure.  He may not take away their trials, but He is with them every step of the way.  He gives them the strength to stand strong in the midst of suffering.   “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.  And, “Oh let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting. From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6

We must always remember that God is for us.  He sent His son to die for us for He loves us with an everlasting love.  We can rest in Him no matter our circumstances for there is nothing He cannot do.  “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” Jeremiah 32:17.  If a God who is all powerful and all loving is for us, who in reality can be against us?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.