“I believe; help my unbelief!” —Mark 9:24 When you stepped out onto the frozen lake, did you have a tinge of doubt that the ice would hold you? How about when you were climbing that ladder to the 2nd story of the house, did you wonder if it would truly bear your weight? When you rappelled down that cliff, were there moments of doubtful trust in the rope? There are many things we believe, but then there are moments of doubt in those same things. So it was with the dad who spoke the words above to Jesus. This dad believed that Jesus could drive the demons from his son,…

“It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” —Mark 7:20-23 Many politicians are absolutely corrupt. They will do anything to try and stay in power or win an office. The corruption comes from within that person. It is what their character is. If you hang around a person long enough and hear them speak what is most important to them, you will come to know their character. Their actions will truly…

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” —Mark 6:50 I may lose my job. My health may deteriorate. A loved one might die. It might be I’m afraid of the dark or that I am fearful of a storm. Storms of life, trials and tribulations come in all manner of forms. This should not be a surprise to us when they come because Jesus told us it would happen (John 16:33). Still, knowing we live in a fallen world, these things do often take us unaware and many times we lose courage. We may start doubting many things and become discouraged. Then, if we stay in that…

Herodias’s chance finally came… —Mark 6:21 There are those who are just waiting for the right chance, the right opportunity. Maybe it is a person seeking revenge or maybe it is a person looking to commit a crime of some sort. They are waiting for what they believe will be just the right moment to carry out their evil heart’s desires. This is what was happening in the context of the verse above. John the Baptist had told King Herod that it was not lawful to have Herodias, his brother’s Philip’s wife, as his own wife. Herod was under the enchantment of this woman and as a favor to her…

…they were immediately overcome with amazement. —Mark 5:42 Have you ever been overcome with amazement? Maybe it was the wonder of flowers that you were marveling at or the beauty of a sunset or sunrise. Possibly it was when you were standing on a mountaintop and an awesome sensation of awe rushed over you. Or it could have been as you watched your children being born into this world with indescribable joy. What is it that has amazed you? In the context of the verse above these two parents along with three of Jesus’ disciples were “overcome with amazement.” They had just watch Jesus raise their 12 year old daughter…

“Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” —Mark 5:7 Hidden among any populace are those who would seek to destroy people. But once they are out in the open they are seen for who they really are. They are known by the acts they commit. So it is with Satan and the fallen angels. They like to remain hidden and not be known. But once their work is out in the open they are also seen for who they really are. The man in the context of the verse above was tormented by…

…those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted! —Mark 4:8 As children we used to run all over the mountain behind our house with no need to worry about child predators. In the fall we loved to go to our favorite apple trees to pick and eat. Some years we would approach a tree that had borne great apples the year before and there would not be any apples on it. It was a sad feeling to think it did not produced any fruit for us to enjoy. But other trees would be…

Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother. —Mark 3:35 Family works together for what is best for the family. Teams work together for what is best for their sports family. The military works for what is best for their military family. Social groups work together for what is good for their particular social club. All these groups have structure or common will that was developed by someone. So it is with the church. The church should work together for what is best for the church family, but also for those outside the church family (I am speaking of the universal church and not just a…

…your sins are forgiven. —Mark 2:5 Unforgiveness keeps wrongs raw in a relationship. The relationship is superficial at best and at its worst, non-existent. People may still acknowledge others they are in a fall out with or they may ignore them completely. It is sad how neighbors who had been friends for years now hardly talk to each other and when they do it is just superficial because of dome disagreement. What makes this even more grievous is when they profess to follow Jesus. Some relationships will never experience healing because neither person is willing to move to rectify or remedy the breach. They do not see the other person…

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”—Mark 1:14-15 There we were, 2 miles off-shore stranded in a disabled boat. Noon-time soon gave way to darkness. The ocean waves grew fierce and we had water coming into the boat. We bailed constantly. The bow would rise up on steep waves and then slam down over and over. But, the anchor held. About 1am a floodlight flashed some distance away. Now we believed they would find us…