Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 2:15 "For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day." Acts 2:15"
Day 250 – Mark 11
“For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.”
Acts 2:15
TO PREVENT POSSIBLE ABUSE
Jesus, of course, needed to give a further word of explanation to His Disciples. The danger of abuse of the teaching of “faith and words” was very real.
FAITH AND PRAYER
Though the Gospel of Mark did not mention Jesus praying before He uttered the fateful words against the fig tree, one may safely assume that He prayed first. Prayer will safeguard a person from the possible abuse of faith.
“Therefore I say to you,
‘Whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you receive them, and you will have them.'”
MARK 11:24
1. The exercise of faith in prayer
Every prayer must be offered in faith! Any prayer offered without faith will be an exercise in futility.
2. The reward of faith
The reward of prayer accompanied by faith is heartwarming. We have every reason to believe that our prayers of faith will be duly answered.
3. Prevention of abuse
If the prayer of faith is so powerful, would it not be in danger of abuse? Jesus must have anticipated this question and thus He added this note.
“And whenever you stand praying,
if you have anything against anyone, forgive him
that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
But if you do no forgive, neither will Your Father in heaven
forgive your trespasses.”
MARK 11:25-26
How may abuse of “faith and words” be prevented?