Lines in the Sand

 Scripture: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22 and Psalm 124  • Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 and Psalm 19:7-14  • James 5:13-20  • Mark 9:38-50

We have all kinds of passages about those who are for or against us, whether God is for or against us, and whether we are for or against God, which, unfortunately, as the authors of the scripture and the articles linked in this lesson tells us, can serve to divide us or destroy us unless we are able to find ourselves in the midst of our struggles, differences, trials, sufferings. How do we do that?

I think this week's scripture and lesson tell us how to do that. In discovering "who we are," Jesus finds the disciples defining someone outside their group prophesying in Jesus' name. What does Jesus tell them? What does Jesus mean when he says, "Whoever is not against us is for us?"

Read The Rev. David Lose's "Who Are You?" and Debie Thomas' "Hosts, Not Bouncers."