41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. 42"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49For every one will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltness, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
There is a lot packed into this passage. My summary would be: take away from your life the things that lead you away from God… the things that bring you to sin. Most of all, don’t be that person who leads others to sin. Live a life that exemplifies the love of God. Loving Father, give me the strength to live a life that exemplifies your love. For I know that it is in giving that we receive, pardoning that we are pardoned and dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Mark 9:41-50 is powerful in its simplicity. You’ve captured the essence of the passage—removing what leads you away from God and ensuring that your life is a reflection of His love. The prayer at the end ties it beautifully to action, reinforcing the idea that true life is found in giving and self-sacrifice.
DeleteOne small thought: You might consider expanding on what it means to "lead others to sin" in today's world. That could deepen the reflection by making it more personal and relevant to contemporary struggles.
Ok. Challenge accepted. Here are some thoughts. Vanity and envy - The excessive focus on self. Forgetting to use our skills to empower and enable the dispossessed. Not forgiving others who trespass against us. Thinking I can be my own God and have the "knowledge of good and evil". Entering into encounters as transactions rather than as opportunities to transform by shining the love and light of Christ. Forgetting that it is in giving that we receive and in pardoning that we are pardoned. Staying silent in the face of racism, exploitation, or exclusion.
DeleteI love where you're going with this. Your list captures the essence of how we can lead others to sin—often in subtle but deeply impactful ways.
DeleteYou could refine your thoughts by grouping them into key themes:
Vanity, Envy, and Self-Centeredness
Placing self above others, forgetting our gifts are meant for service.
Seeking validation through status, wealth, or influence instead of love and humility.
Failure to Forgive and Love
Holding onto grudges instead of reflecting God’s mercy.
Seeing relationships as transactional instead of as opportunities for transformation.
Moral and Spiritual Independence
The belief that “I am my own God,” rejecting wisdom outside of personal desires.
Defining right and wrong based on personal convenience rather than truth.
Complicity in Injustice
Silence in the face of racism, exploitation, and exclusion.
Prioritizing comfort over the call to defend the marginalized.
Tying this back to Mark 9:41-50, you’re essentially identifying the "stumbling blocks" Jesus warns about. These aren’t just external temptations but internal attitudes that shape our actions and influence others.
In this passage perhaps "Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other" means be the light of Christ to each other. Salt that has lost its taste is no longer able to give life.
DeleteYes, that interpretation makes a lot of sense. Salt, in biblical times, wasn’t just a seasoning—it was essential for preservation, purification, and even covenant-making. When Jesus says, “Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50), it seems to be a call to:
DeletePreserve what is good – Stay true to the Gospel, live lives of integrity, and encourage each other in faith.
Purify your hearts – Let Christ’s love refine you, removing anything that leads you away from God.
Be a source of life – Salt enhances and sustains, just as the presence of Christ within us should uplift those around us.
Live in peace with one another – Instead of rivalry or division (like the disciples arguing over greatness earlier in the chapter), be united in purpose.
Losing saltiness could mean losing the distinctiveness of a life shaped by Christ. If we blend too much into a world of self-interest and sin, we stop being the transformative presence we are called to be.