LORD’S DAY, FEBRUARY 11
Luke 9:37-56
Philippians 2:1-4

“…in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves.”

THE WEAKNESSES OF THE DISCIPLES

The disciples of the Lord were found to be powerless over the devil possessing a child. Although Jesus gave them power to do wonders and miracles to make proof of their ministry, they lacked faith to exercise what the Lord had given them. When Jesus told those who were healed by His mighty power, “thy faith hath made thee whole,” they were not healed by their own subjective faith. Rather, it was because of their objective faith in Jesus’ promises and the power of God the Almighty. Jesus described those unbelieving people as faithless and perverse, for they were stubborn and morally corrupt in character. They were men of natural minds who did not know the things of God. They did not believe God had the power to cast out devils. Even when Jesus told them of His death and resurrection, they were so foolish, unable to fathom His deep sayings.

The disciples were proud and conceited in themselves. Even among the Apostles, they were vying to be the greatest. Jesus taught them by using a child as an example. He wanted them to have a childlike faith, not childish faith. Jesus also had to rebuke their sectarianism telling them to forbid none, for he that is not against them was for them.

The disciples were also prejudiced. Jesus knew His time to die was near, and steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, to fulfill the prophecy. He was to be offered as the Lamb of God. The disciples found the Samaritans rejecting Jesus because they were envious that He set His face to Jerusalem and not to Samaria. James and John who were unaware of Jesus’ plight wanted to destroy the Samaritans for not receiving Jesus.

We must thank the Lord that He came not to destroy men’s lives but to save them. Though the disciples had their weaknesses, our Lord is the One who preserves us all, He alone deserving all glory!

THOUGHT: Am I truly a disciple of Jesus Christ?
PRAYER: Lord of mercy and grace, help me be the kind of disciple that Jesus wants me to be for I desire to give glory unto His Name!