Mark 3:11-12

February 3, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God.’ And he strictly ordered them not to make him known” (Mark 3:11-12).
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I see two things in this passage. First, unclean or demonic spirits recognize the work of the Holy Spirit, whether that be through the works of Jesus or Paul. (See the Luke and Acts references below.) If demons can recognize the work of the Spirit, why do I struggle to know if a person is legitimately from God? How can demons have better spiritual discernment than I?

Second, Jesus does not allow demons to testify about Him. Already in Mark 1:34, we saw this: “And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” In contrast, Jesus expects me to testify, but at times I struggle to do so. Why? I feel like a walking contradiction! Demons are not supposed to testify, but they do. I am supposed to testify, but I don’t. Yikes.

Father, please help me to have greater love for and confidence in you. Help me to be quick to testify about you. Amen.

“And demons also came out of many, crying, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭41‬).

“As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation’” (Acts‬ ‭16‬:‭16‬-‭17‬).

Filed Under: Acts, devotional thoughts, Gospels, Mark

Mark 2:1-4

February 2, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.”

This was the first sermon I preached in Hebrew. I love this story, and what stands out to me is the word “expectation.” Of course, the word “expectation” doesn’t appear in the story. It was their actions that shouted “expectation.” Everything they did was based on their expectation that Jesus would heal their friend.

I wish that every time I gather with God’s people, I expect God to do something, … for me and for others. However, I realize that way too often I gather with God’s people because I am “supposed to.”

Can God surprise me? Sure! But when I am present out of habit or obligation, where is my mind and heart while I am physically present? A million miles away. On those occasions, I may not hear what is said because my thoughts of other things are so loud. Since God works through His word, I am effectively telling God to “be quiet.”

Father, please help me to gather with your people (or read your word) with expectation. You are a good God who showers His people with blessings. Forgive me for the many times I have disregarded or ignored what you had for me. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Gospels, Mark

Mark 1:7

February 1, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“And he preached, saying, ‘After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie’” (Mark 1:7).
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The “he” in this verse is John the Baptist, and he understood and accepted his role well. His job was to point to Jesus, not himself. Here, he makes clear that he sees himself as subservient to Jesus. One gets no sense of “self” in John. Again, his job was to point to Jesus.

This reminds me of the groomsmen at so many weddings. In their effort to have fun, they draw all the attention to themselves. A wedding is the bride’s and groom’s day, and the wedding party should do nothing but serve and point everyone’s attention to the bride and groom.

That’s what we see John do here and elsewhere.

Father, help me to have John’s spirit of humility and purpose. Help me to be satisfied in the role you have assigned me, even if others are highlighted. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Gospels, humility, Mark

Habakkuk 3:17-18

January 31, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

This guy believed bigly in God. Even when everything was failing around him, he trusted God. This reminds me of Paul and Silas singing praise about midnight in the Philippian jail (Acts 16).

I wish I could say that I would praise the Lord if I were unjustly imprisoned or the whole world collapsed around me. I want to do that, but I don’t think I am there yet.

Father, help me to have the spirit of Habakkuk and Paul and Silas. Help me to look into the face of hardship and praise you. Amen.

Filed Under: Faith, Habakkuk, Old Testament

Habakkuk 2:18-20

January 30, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, ‘Awake; to a silent stone, Arise!’ Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:18-20).

Here, the Lord examines the logic of trusting in idols. He explains that a piece of wood or a stone covered with gold or silver is still only a rock or a piece of wood. And there is no breath (life!) in it.

In contrast, the Lord sits on His throne, alive and well.

Why is it so easy to look at these folks and say, “Why do you trust in that rock, wood, glass, etc., instead of the Lord?” But so difficult to realize that I can do similar things? I may not trust in a little statue, but I have said, “This is my lucky shirt.” Most of the time, I trust in myself rather than the Lord. That’s only slightly better than trusting in a stone, but still idolatry.

Lord, please help me to trust in you alone. Amen.

Filed Under: Habakkuk, idolatry, Old Testament
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