Today we read Mark 9. In this chapter we see how much Jesus loves little children. He wants us to teach our children about Himself. In verse 14, we also meet the father of the demon-afflicted boy. The father believes–and yet doubts at the same time. This can happen. But if we cling to Jesus even despite our doubts, He will grow us in our faith–and our doubts will become smaller and smaller. Thank you, Jesus!

Today we read Mark 8. Each Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tells the events of Jesus Christ, albeit each one with a different perspective. The focus of the Gospel of Mark is to show that Jesus is both 100% and 100% God. Toward the end of this chapter, Jesus tells His disciples (and thus, you and me today!) that we need to take up our cross as we follow Him. That means that each one of us has different struggles in life to deal with. But Jesus provides His followers with the strength to do so–in His Holy Spirit that He gives us. In this way, He is always with us on our sometimes difficult journey!

Today we read Mark 7. Jesus teaches that by nature our hearts are evil. That is because of the original sin in us that we have inherited from our ancestors Adam and Eve. That is why we need Jesus–to cover and forgive our evil thoughts and actions. Thank you for doing this for us, dear Jesus!

Today we read Mark 6. We see in verse 4 that even Jesus’ own family and many other people in Nazareth, the town in which he spent much of His early life, do not accept Him as both true God and true man–the Messiah. Similarly, we too might experience that many of the people around us will reject Jesus. This is difficult for us. But Jesus Christ is always with us and gives us the strength to remain faithful to Him, even in the face of opposition.