4 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Numbers 9-10
Mark 8:1-21

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Mark 8:11-13 (CSB): “The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, demanding of him a sign from heaven to test him. Sighing deeply in his spirit, he said, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

The Pharisees were a jealous, territorial group of religious leaders. They loved that others looked up to them for their “piety,” and they loved the power that such admiration was able to grasp.

But Jesus was infringing on their territory. People were listening to His teaching and being healed by Him. The Pharisees felt that their admiration and power was threatened. So, they called for Jesus to do something to prove that His authority came from Heaven. They wanted to watch Him do something, and then they would judge whether or not He had made the cut.

Jesus would play no such games. He wasn’t a circus act sent to dazzle audiences. He was the Son of God sent to make God known and make all who trust in Him fully pleasing in the Father’s eyes.

Jesus let out a deep sigh of exasperation. The verses for today say that He sighed in His spirit.

And then He opened His mouth and told those religious leaders that He wasn’t going to put on an act for them to judge.

While our motives are very different from the Pharisees, we often wish that Jesus would give us a sign, don’t we? Maybe we are going through some really tough times and we just want Him to do something, anything(!), to let us know that He’s there. You’ve been there, done that, and got the t-shirt, haven’t you?

I remember back in May 2002, Kim was scheduled for a major surgery to take out her right kidney. A 1-inch mass had been discovered in it the previous week. As we drove the hospital the morning of the surgery, we were nervous. “Had the cancer spread? Would there be complications during the surgery? Would Kim’s recovery be complete?” As I turned into the hospital parking lot, the Christian radio station we had been listening to went to an interview with Larry Burkett (Crown Financial Ministries), who shared how God helped him heal and gave him strength as he battled with kidney cancer. Kim and I looked at each other and knew that God had orchestrated the timing of those words minutes before we stepped into the hospital. He had given us a “sign” that He was walking through the ordeal with us, and we were greatly comforted.

The Pharisees asked for a sign because they wanted to see something spectacular and then stand in judgment over what they had observed. God doesn’t play those games.

But it’s not wrong to ask God to demonstrate in some tangible way that He is with you, especially when you are scared out of your wits and simply want to know that He’s with you. Then, leave it to Him to determine whether He will do something, what He will do, and when He will do it. If He does, then good. Be comforted. If He doesn’t, then take it that He wants you to trust Him, exercise faith, and rest in His promises.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you ultimately to find comfort in His promises (what He has already said).
  • Ask God to give you the faith to rest/trust in Him and His Word.
  • Ask God to give you wisdom about asking for evidence of His presence and whether it is appropriate.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into when Jesus may/may not provide a sign, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“Why does Jesus say that ‘an evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign’ (Matthew 12:39)?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)