Mark 9:14-19 How long must I put up with you?
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: February 26, 2018, Mark 9:14-19
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
As they approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. The whole crowd was very surprised to see Jesus and ran to welcome him. He asked the scribes, “What are you arguing about with them?” A man in the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that won’t let him talk. Whenever it brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes stiff. So I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they didn’t have the power.” Jesus told them, “You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!”
(Revelation of God) Jesus and His three disciples have been on the holy mountain communing with heaven. The three disciples have seen the glory of heaven in Jesus and ancient prophets who had been taken to heaven having a conference with their Master before them. On the way down the mountain, they were surrounded by the peace of nature and the natural comradery of four men who have lived and worked together and loved each other for a long time. Maybe that is another reason why Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him so much. They were already a team. They already loved each other. They did not have personality conflicts. They had chosen to be together even before Jesus met them. Jesus could work with them efficiently because they had been working together efficiently for years. For Jesus, their love for each other may have been a tiny piece of heaven on earth among all the strife and hatred. With them in the background, he could focus on praying to His Father. The other disciples’ lack of cohesion may have been an irritating background noise for Him all the time.
(Understanding the Text) Then, they reached the other disciples and stepped from peace to strife. As they approached, they saw scribes arguing with the disciples as a crowd of people looked on. Maybe the four men glanced at each other as if to say, “What now?” Someone in the crowd noticed that Jesus had returned, and the crowd ran over to meet Him. They were surprised to see Him. They had not expected Him that day in the middle of the controversy with the other disciples. I imagine the other disciples ran to meet Jesus, too leaving the scribes just standing there with their mouths gaping until they followed after at a more dignified pace.
Jesus may have been asking the disciples what was going on, but the man at the center of the problem piped up from the crowd. He must have been disappointed when he and his son got to where Jesus was supposed to be and found only nine of the disciples. Were those disciples dissatisfied because they had been left to hold the fort while Jesus took the favored three off on a mountain excursion doing something exciting? Were they thinking that they deserved more favor? Or were they worried because more and more people were gathering, and they did not know how to handle themselves without Jesus or Peter, James, or John organizing the situation. They may have started off okay with healing like Jesus had taught them to do, but then this disappointed man came with his son. He had come for Jesus, but he would try to settle for inferior men if it would help his son. However, he did not have much faith in these disciples and sure enough, they were not capable of healing his son. Then, the scribes started accusing the disciples of being fakes and phonies. All the man could do was look at his son and lose hope for any cure from these arguing men.
Then suddenly, Jesus was coming, and the man grabbed his son and ran. When Jesus asked the question, the man could not keep silent. This was another chance to be grasped before the scribes interfered again.
Who was Jesus referring to when He talked about the unbelieving generation? The man? The scribes? His disciples? The spectators? All I know is that once again Jesus associates belief with the power to be healed.
(Application) When we have a mountaintop experience with Jesus, we can count on Satan having prepared an unpleasant surprise to bring us down and shake our faith. We should not be taken unawares when this happens, but we must keep faith with Jesus. Sometimes, it feels like I have been left by myself to hold the fort while the favored disciples are out doing great things. I need to keep faith with Jesus during that time so that I do not dishonor my Master. Sometimes I bring my problems to Jesus, and His representatives do not help me instead being more concerned with each other or some controversy. I must keep faith with Jesus during this time knowing that He has heard me and prepared an answer for me somewhere and sometime when I do not expect it. In all cases, I must keep faith in Jesus to keep His promises. He loves me.
(Prayer) Give me faith in You when I cannot see the answers to prayer and Your promises seem to be failing. Keep me faithful when I am not on the mountain. Teach me to always know that any service that You ask of me is important. Help me to be faithful in the small, as well as the great. I pray that I will never bring dishonor to Your name or mess up Your plans for other people. Teach me to always go to You when I fail and when I succeed. Thank You that You always have patience even when I lack faith.