A CUP OF WATER
MARK 9:38-41
Introduction:
What is done in the Lord’s name will last; and God does not forget it. The Apostle Paul advises us about showing mercy when he wrote in Hebrews 13:2, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” We really don’t know who some people are that the Lord puts in our lives from time to time, so we need to be faithful to the precepts of God’s Word regarding our treatment of them.
I. OUR LORD WILL NOT DISMISS AS TRIVIAL, ACTS OF MERCY DONE IN HIS NAME
A. God will not forget, Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
B. He will ultimately be rewarded by participation in God’s kingdom, Mark 10:29-30, “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30- But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.”
1. He is rewarded, but NOT on the basis of a good deed but because of God’s gracious promise to people of faith, Luke 12:31-32, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32- Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
2. The reward is “in that day,” 2 Timothy 1:16, 18, “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 18- The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.”
3. “In that day” refers to the judgement seat of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
II. YOU HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME
A. The King gives His word, Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
1. The way we treat others reflects on our Savior, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15- And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
a. Jesus willingly became incarnate and followed the path of obedience to the cross, Philippians 2:6-8, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7- But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8- And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
b. He died for all, not just the elect, as some suggest, 1 Timothy 2:6, “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
2. “Ye have done it unto me.”
a. Therefore the Lord is not ashamed to call us brethren, Hebrews 2:11, “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
b. He is not ashamed to confess us before His Father, Matthew 10:32, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
B. Because you belong to Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:23, “And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”
1. We are His servants, 1 Corinthians 7:22, “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.”
2. We belong to God the Father by Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 8:6, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
CONCLUSION
A cup of water does not seem to be much, but we do not know the end of what we do. An insignificant gesture could have eternal consequences in the life of someone. The Lord gives us opportunity to be a blessing from time to time without knowing the end product of our kindness. It behooves us to be aware of these opportunities of service.