Todays Reading : Mark 9
While preparing and researching for the blog today, I came across several headings and overall topics. The heading that I found most interesting was “Slow Learners”. I think that this is intriguing because in the grand scheme of things we collectively are perpetual learners and sometimes others grasp ideas faster than others. From the beginning of our journey from birth until we pass away we are learning in this Faith University. Currently we are in the midst of graduation season, which makes me reminiscence of undergrad and graduate school.
The formal ceremony that the graduates attended is called Commencement. It is the beginning of their journey with this newfound knowledge and confidence. Many will go into the world and succeed without question, yet there are many who continue to have life lessons that will allow them to continue to grow and mature. The latter set understands that the process that started them at the beginning is not finite, yet a continual process. These individuals see that the process might be slow, but the reward is great.
One particular time that I remember very well in undergrad as a Slow Learner is Organic Chemistry II. This was a class that was required for my degree program. I enjoyed the class, but the lab session always created new adventures in learning. Many of the labs were multi-week labs. So you would start a certain portion of the lab, allow it to mature, then on the returning week the completion of the lab is finished and your results would be recorded. Almost 90% of the time, my second week lab had some type of mishap that would happen and I would have to stay several hours later to complete the lab. The only saving grace that made me smile during these weeks was the final product would be correct and the yield within the required range.
In Mark Chapter 9, Jesus is continually teaching his disciples some of the most important aspects of the journey in this Faith University.
- Take time to experience the presence of God without questions, concerns, or haste.
- In Mark 9 : 2-6 : 2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[a] on earth could bleach them.4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi,[b] it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
- God does not need our outward show of grandeur or pomp; he just wants to share time with us. Sometimes He gives us a glimpse of Glory.
- Remember in all things enter any situation with prayer.
- Mark 9:27 -29 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”[e]
- After several of years with Christ the disciples had forgotten the basis of all the lessons: prayer. They had been given the Spirit to heal and cast out demons, but they had forgotten that the communication and relationship with God is the true power of the process. It is more about the communication and relationship than the results.
- Open your mind to the different ways God will bless you.
- Mark 9: 38-4138 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name,[f]and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us.41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
- Sometimes we forget that God chooses to bless us in the most amazing and uncommon ways. Let us pray that we allow God to open our eyes and soften our hearts to receive the blessings He has for us no matter how they are given to us.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for allowing us to have this journey in this Faith University and continue to teach and strengthen us daily. God, thank you for being the Master teacher and mentor who will guide us through every possible hurdle with love and compassion.