faith journey – Page 2

Mark 9:38-41 – Using the Name of Jesus

Read Mark 9:38-41

We see another misunderstanding here on the part of the disciples. They may have been part of Jesus’ “inner circle” of followers, but they were not the only ones Jesus would use to benefit the kingdom. This was a teachable moment for them in that regard.

I imagine they were a bit surprised, and even put off, that someone outside their little band of followers would be casting out demons in Jesus’ name. But their exasperation was not that this man was using Jesus’ name so much as that this charismatic prophet was not in “their group.”

Zechariah 11:4-17 – Good Shepherd

Read Zechariah 11:4-17

Another shift just happened. The voice and writing style here don’t seem to be the same as Zechariah in the first portion of the book. But this passage has been inspirationally placed exactly where it is. We can trust God for that.

That’s one of those Bible secrets people often never experience. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” The secret is, all Scripture, the whole Bible, is true because it’s inspired by God.

Zechariah 8:1-8 – If Only You Could See

Read Zechariah 8:1-8

Zechariah’s visions reveal God’s intentions for Jerusalem. The LORD declares, “My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!” The LORD is returning to dwell in Jerusalem in the midst of his people.

This passage must have been what a friend of mine was referring to years ago when he talked about returning to Jerusalem. It was as if he believed his own faith journey would one day lead him to Jerusalem.

Hebrews 5:11-6:12 – Going Deeper

Read Hebrews 5:11-6:12

These Christians had so much to learn, even though they had “been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others.” However, it seems they were stuck in the basics. They knew what it meant to be Jews, but to be followers of Christ changed their faith journey dramatically. Here we see the Preacher rebuking them. “You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” It was time for them to stop being lazy Christians, and the Preacher uses a bit of “shock and awe” in this reading.

When people first come to faith in Jesus, we need to be careful not to overwhelm them with knowledge they aren’t ready for. Just like you wouldn’t give a newborn a piece of steak. However, the Preacher warns that it’s too easy to stay with “milk” and not move on to a deeper faith and understanding of what it means to be a Christ follower. I’ve seen many churches struggle with this very thing, and as a result, the congregation never goes deeper than the what the “newbies” can handle.

Jeremiah 35:1-19 – What Makes the Recabites Faithful?

Read Jeremiah 35:1-19

faithfulness seen in a woman praising and praying on a light blue background

It was interesting to hear the story of the Rechabites and how they are singled out for God’s purposes. Apparently, the Rechabites were a small group of Israelites, related to the Kenites, living in southern Judah. They hadn’t let the corruption of foreign gods discolor their faithfulness. In fact, this passage illustrates how the Rechabites exemplify what it means to be faithful and true.

In the example we’re shown, this faithfulness extends to a rule they had been given by a loved one. I found it strange there was no direct mention of God or their devotion to him. Their actions point to a devout vow that must have been started to avoid being distracted by wine and spirits.