Robert and Mary Moffat were missionaries in Bechuanland (Bek-u-An-aland), now Botswana, in the early 1800s. They demonstrated unwavering faith and perseverance. Despite not a single soul embracing their message, they served the Tswana people for a decade. Even the leaders of their mission board questioned the prudence of their mission, but the thought of abandoning their post filled them with profound sorrow. Their perseverance, rooted in the belief that God was guiding their efforts and that they would witness the conversion of souls in His perfect time, is a powerful lesson for us all. It reminds us of the importance of trusting God’s plan, even when it seems complex or uncertain.
They stayed, and for two more years, darkness reigned. Then, one day, a friend in England told the Moffats he wanted to mail them a gift and asked what they would like. Believing that the Lord would bless their work, Mrs. Moffat replied, “Send us a communion set; I am sure it will soon be needed.”
God’s power and faithfulness are evident in the Moffats’ story. The Holy Spirit moved upon the villagers’ hearts, and soon, a small group of six converts united to form the first Christian congregation in that land. The delayed arrival of the communion set from England, just a day before the first commemoration of the Lord’s supper in Botswana, is a clear sign of God’s perfect timing and His response to their faith. This should reassure us that God’s timing is ideal, and we should trust in His plan for our lives.
As recorded in the Gospels, one prominent theme of Jesus’ earthly ministry is His invitation to people to place their faith in Him. Mark’s Gospel is no exception, as we’ve seen in our study thus far. The text for today is Mark 9:14-29, a dramatic illustration of faith coupled with the power of God. The testimony of a distraught father resonates with us, especially when our faith, too, seems weak. Our study is titled “Lord, I Believe.” This dramatic illustration will be a powerful guide for understanding and strengthening our faith.
Listen carefully as I read our text, Mark 9:14-29.
This record of Jesus casting out a demon reveals several KINDS of faith. We will observe how these kinds of faith are present in our journey and how we can grow in faith.
In our previous two episodes, we saw Peter, James, and John progress from the glorious mountaintop experience of the Transfiguration to the valley of the shadow of death. Seeing Jesus in His unveiled glory, followed by His immediate predictions of His impending death, and the tragic scene of the demon-possessed boy left them confused and questioning. In this context, the following kinds of faith are demonstrated.
The First KIND of Faith is,
Weak Faith
As Jesus and the three disciples descended from the mountain, they intended to rejoin the other disciples. They noticed a huge crowd gathered around the nine disciples as they approached them and that the Jewish scribes were arguing about something.
What a contrast between the glorious and holy scenes on the mountain and the dark, ominous, grief-filled scenes they now faced. In many ways, this mirrors our experience as Christ-followers. The daily reality of life is the continuing struggle between good and evil, between the flesh and the spirit, and our mountaintop experiences are the exception rather th...
