30 From there Jesus and his followers went through Galilee, but he didn’t want anyone to know it. 31 This was because he was teaching his disciples, “The Human One will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him. Three days after he is killed he will rise up.” 32 But they didn’t understand this kind of talk, and they were afraid to ask him. 33 They entered Capernaum. When they had come into a house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about during the journey?” 34 They didn’t respond, since on the way they had been debating with each other about who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all.” 36 Jesus reached for a little child, placed him among the Twelve, and embraced him. Then he said, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me isn’t actually welcoming me but rather the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:30-37, CEB)
Why do you serve God?
Why do we do what God asks us to do of loving others?
Is it to get seen and get noticed here on Earth?
Is it to impress God?
Well if it is to be noticed here, that is your reward, and if it is to impress God, you can’t.
We need to welcome the ones that everyone else wants to push aside. Here Jesus welcomes a child into the midst of the disciples. A child who would not be welcome, and was to not be seen or heard. Children were no more than property at this time, males more valuable than females, but still just something you didn’t want around. And Jesus says we must welcome children in Jesus’ name. And when we do that is isn’t in Jesus’ name but God.
So welcome those who others say don’t belong, because that is really what God calls us to do.
Love People. Love God.
aSacredRebel 