July 5

From: Continual Burnt Offering: Daily Meditations By: Henry Allan Ironside

Mark 9:38‑40

“And John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy name, and he followeth not us; and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me. For he that is not against us is on our part” ―Mark 9:38-40³⁸And 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. ³⁹But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. ⁴⁰For he that is not against us is on our part. (Mark 9:38‑40).

IT IS a great thing to learn that each servant of Christ must act individually as before the Lord, and yet, on the other hand, that he is responsible to co-operate with his fellow-servants so far as possible, without seeking to control or dictate to them.

We are always prone to forget that we are not to judge one another, but to remember that each one stands or falls to his own master (Rom. 14:4⁴Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)). But this should not make us self-centered and disinterested in the work of others. The trials of our fellow-servants should move us to prayer on their behalf, and their victories should cause us to rejoice. We cannot properly appraise even our work now, let alone that of our brethren, but all will come out “in that day” (1 Cor. 4:1-5¹Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. ²Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. ³But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. ⁴For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. ⁵Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1‑5)).

It seemed hard for our Lord’s disciples to learn these things, and it is evident that few of us have learned them today. We are so apt to over-estimate the importance of our own ministry and to under-value the work of our fellow-servants. This is a subtle form of pride which is most hateful to God, and most harmful to the work of the Lord.

“Ah, the judgment-seat was not for thee—

These servants, they were not thine:

And the Eye which adjudges the praise and the blame,

Sees further far than thine.

Wait till the evening falls, my child.

Wait till the evening falls;

The Master is near, and knoweth it all—

Wait till the Master calls.”

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