Chapter 11 records Mark’s account of the week
before Jesus’ crucifixion. In it we read of His triumphal
entry (verses 1-11); the Temple cleansed (verses 15-18);
and the lesson of the barren fig tree (verses 12-14,19-25).
Verses 22-26 have been labeled, “The Prayer of
Faith.” In answering the disciples, Jesus said, “Have faith
in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say
unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into
the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall
believe that those things which he saith shall come to
pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Christians today
can exercise this type of faith. However, many times when
we pray, we do not pray in faith. God will not answer if we
do not exercise faith. God longs to give us the desires of
our heart; but we must come to Him in faith, believing.
Then our desires will be met.
Many times Christians wonder if what they are
asking for is God’s will for them. If there is a settled
peace within your heart about the matter, the Holy Spirit
will give you the assurance to ask for it and the faith to
believe that you will receive it. If you have doubts, then
simply pray that God’s will be done.
Verses 25 and 26 give the reasons why there are
hindrances to our prayers being answered. Jesus said, “And
when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against
any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive
you your trespasses.” Do you have a grudge against someone
and have been unable to forgive? If so, then your prayers
cannot be answered. I have talked with many people who feel
they cannot forgive someone for something that person has
done to them. This is Satan’s way of trying to defeat
Christians. God says we must forgive! And through the power
of His grace, He will help us to forgive. The words of our
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, are very explicit
concerning the matter of forgiveness. If you have a problem
in this area, I trust you will turn it over to the Lord,
and experience the joy of salvation and answered prayer in
your life.
In chapter 12:28-34 Jesus gives the great
commandments. The first is, “And thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” The second is,
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Following the
giving of the second commandment, Jesus said, “There is
none other commandment greater than these.”
Our society today is very selfish. Individuals are
prone to put themselves before anything or anyone else.
God’s chain of command is–God first, our neighbor second,
and us third. How happy and full our lives would be if we
would but follow God’s chain of command. I wonder today how
many of us truly love the Lord our God with all our heart,
soul, mind, and strength. Do we really love our neighbors?
It should be the desire of every Christian to have a
greater capacity for love and compassion for those around
him. We should love people for Christ’s sake. God loved us
so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die on the
cross for us.
Jesus has called us to be ambassadors and
messengers for Him, to be His servants, ready and willing
to proclaim the great message of salvation. In order for us
to be faithful servants, we should love God with all our
heart, soul, mind, and strength. We should also love those
about us so much that we can truly say, “I love my neighbor
as myself.”
MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY:
Man now can be:
Righteous.
Romans 5:19
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience
of one shall many be made righteous.
MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY: