Chapter 9

This chapter starts out with Jesus taking Peter, James and John with Him up on a mountain where they audibly hear God’s voice confirming that Jesus is indeed His Son (vs 1-13).  They come down the mountain to find the disciples trying to cast an evil spirit out of a young man.  Here, we hear the heart's cry of a father whose son has been tormented by the evil spirit from the time he was a little boy (vs 14-27).  The disciples are confused because they have not been able to cast the evil spirit out (vs 28-29) while some guy they don’t even know is going around casting out evil spirits (vs 38-40).  I find it interesting that right before this incident the disciples were discussing who among them was the greatest (vs 34) and Jesus goes on to address pride (vs. 35-37).

We end this chapter with Jesus discussing sin and the consequences of it (vs. 42-48), and this is where I want to focus.  This is heavy teaching! If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off?  If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off?  If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out? What was Jesus saying here? If what you are doing is causing you to sin, get rid of it! If where you are going is causing you to sin, stop going there!  If what you are putting before your eyes or looking at is causing you to sin, stop looking at it! Sin separates us from God and will keep us not only from walking in His promises and fullness of life here on earth, but ultimately it will keep us from entering into Heaven.

Questions for Today: 

Are there things in your life that need to go?

Are you willing to get rid of them if it means a closer walk with the Lord?

What steps will you take today to rid yourself of the distractions that are keeping you from having a close walk with Jesus?

Prayer: 

Lord Jesus, help me to identify the things in my life that are keeping me from having a close walk with You. I call them what they are - sin. Give me the strength and wisdom I need to reject these things and get them out of my life. I trust You, Lord, to replace them with the things that bring me peace, life and joy. In Jesus name, Amen.