Title: A Time to Ignore /Topic: Strengthening Faith

Today’s Reading: Numbers 19; Numbers 20; Psalm 28; Mark 5

Scripture: Mark 5:35,36
35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?"
36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Observation: We sometimes struggle to believe and keep our faith strong. Here is Jesus with a lesson in one thing we must do to “keep the faith”. We must ignore those who would speak doubt to us. Jesus ignored what the people were saying and told Jairus to not be afraid by reason of what the people had told him and then instructed him to “just believe”.

Application: I know sometimes I have had my faith challenged by others (even Christians) and have allowed their skepticism to weaken my faith and confidence in what I believed God had spoken to my heart that he wanted to do. I need to follow Jesus' example and ignore them. Sometimes it is the right thing to do to simply keep my mouth shut around “nay-sayers” and remove myself from their negativity so that I may not “be afraid” and just believe.

Prayer: Father, help me to have wisdom in who to share things with and who not to and also in who to listen to and who to ignore. There is a time to listen only to the voice of your Spirit and watch you perform your wonders. Then the speaking may commence with me exalting the great works and miracles that my God has worked on my behalf.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.