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 1:5-6

January 29, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own” (Habakkuk 1:5-6).

These verses demonstrate God’s sovereignty as He says He is raising the Chaldeans (Babylonians). Daniel 2:21 says that “he removes kings and sets up kings.” In this case, He was raising the Babylonians, who would conquer the Assyrians.

The Lord is raising them up because they “march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own.” And, this is what the Lord will use them to do in Judah.

The statement that most sticks out to me is “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” This really provides a distinction between God and man. I suspect He doesn’t tell us more about what is going on in the world because we can not understand or believe what He is doing. I also suspect that we would begin to evaluate the rightness or wrongness of what He is doing based on our criteria, rather than His.

Even in this example of the Chaldeans, some would argue that it is immoral for God to raise a cruel army that takes things that are not their own.

Father, please help me trust in the goodness of your actions, especially when I don’t understand them. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Faith, Habakkuk, humility, Old Testament

Nahum 3:5-7

January 28, 2026 by Leave a Comment

“Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, ‘Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?’ Where shall I seek comforters for you?” (Nahum 3:5-7)

Yikes! No one should want to hear God say, “I am against you.” I know there are people filled with folly who say, I’m not worried about it. I suspect that Assyria, as a nation, had the same dismissive attitude toward the only true and living God.

However, we have the historical vantage point to see that God’s warning came to pass. Assyria was humiliated, destroyed, and lost to time.

Father, please help me not to dismiss your warnings. Help me repent quickly. Amen.

Filed Under: devotional thoughts, Nahum, Old Testament
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