Mark 9:30-50

This mark for you passage and book passage has been on the more ground breaking, challenging passages. In essence, it is discussing how the disciples don’t get it. In the face of death and rejection, the path to Calgary- the disciples are caught up in their own glory. And then Jesus talks about receiving a child is the same as receiving Himself and to a further extent, God Himself. I asked myself, what does it even mean to receive? I think, correct me if I am wrong, it means to accept and care. And in contrary to the world’s standards- to be great in the kingdom, is to be a servant to all. And this is nothing new, I’ve heard it a thousand times. But in the same vein of what I’ve been learning in the past 2 weeks it’s been a lot about the walls I’ve protected myself with and similar to the world, I have used a filter to accept people in to my life based on what I can gain or what I see as beneficial to myself. I am quick to accept and reject people based on so many things. And I will share a few thoughts separately. But all to say, I think this passage is hammering in a huge lesson that God is marking in my life (LOL get it marking...in MARK) okay anyways, it is this- I do not need Jesus as my savior to help me get out of difficult trials (I do), but I am coming to the conclusion that I am in need of savior not based on circumstances but because of who I am. I’ve been protecting and guarding myself with the walls I’ve built as child and I think Jesus is walking around the walls and calling them down. To be great is to be a servant of all. 

I’ve been living in my entitlement as the book said “spiritual snobbery”. And in another part of the chapter, it states “ a flourishing  church is not of big shots but of big hearts. We do not view people as those who evaluate and compete with but those to serve”.

Some other thoughts that I had while reading Mark 9 and the Mark for you chapter

• Mark 9: to receive a child is to accept and care for- it is not based on what a person can do for me or add to me but it is the fact that you receive everyone bc it’s similar to receiving Jesus or accepting, we are more prone to treat people better or I am challenged bc I realize I do filter people out - who is good enough to be in my life versus not. Treat some better than others, more responsive to some than others, based on either retaliation if you treated me poorly or if in my mind placed you on a pedestal then I treat you better whether that be out of respect or gain or feeling safe. I def have filters in who I receive and who I do and I think there is for sure wisdom in who I let into my inner circle confide in but in terms of accepting and caring and being a servant to all- the call is there to love your enemies as yourself = this is what it means to be great in the kingdom of God, it is to be a servant to all like Jesus

• Jesus as our protector and prover grants us the freedom to be a servant to all

• I know my heart and I know that it is not naturally able to do this- this is a power of God that has to turn my heart into this . Without God it is an impossible task

• Finally seeing I am in need of a savior, Not based on circumstance but on who I am

It’s been hard for me to admit that I am in need of help and poor in spirit. Again being poor in spirit is not something to ask for, but a thing to be recognized. And I think with the help of therapy and the word, it is becoming abundantly clear, this is where God is moving and growing me in all humility, a servant’s heart (which was the word I had from last year).