Mark 9:41

Mark 9:41 says, Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.  We may often think that we really can't offer much help to those in need, so we just don't try to.  Yet, I believe that most of us can afford a cup of water to give to someone who is thirsty.  We don't have to give them a lifetime supply, but only enough to meet their need.  Still, too often when someone asks us for help we think why couldn't they get this themself, especially if it seems to be something small.  Whatever we do, though, as Christians, should be done in the name of God.  He should receive the glory and not us.  Verse forty-two adds, And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.  Jesus then talked about being offended by little children, which some people in church seem to be.  He said a person would be better off dead than being guilty of doing this.  Verse forty-three states, And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  Verse forty-four adds, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Verse forty-five continues, And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:  Verse forty-six concludes, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.  Verse forty-seven says, And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:  Verse forty-eight continues, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Jesus then talks about body parts, a hand, a foot, or an eye offending us, or leading us away from doing what we know God calls us to do.  He then tells us that we are better off cutting off or plucking out the offending part than allowing it to lead us into the everlasting torment of hell.  Now, if we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we cannot be cast into hell, but if any part of our body begins to lead us away from His will, we are still better off without it.  This may seem drastic but so is the power of sin.  We certainly cannot say that since all our sins are forgiven away, it doesn't really matter if we happen to sin again.  This will never be true.  Verse forty-nine states, For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Jesus then said we would all be salted with fire and every sacrifice would be salted.  Verse fifty adds, Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.  Salt is a preservative, but if it has lost its savor, or saltiness, it is worthless.  Jesus Christ is our preserving force, but if He has lost His savor for us in life, we are in danger of losing the joy of our salvation.