Pause

To find our way somewhere, we first need to know where we want to go. Any directions we get, otherwise, are pretty much useless.

In these next quiet moments, think first about where you want to go as a believer. The Spirit awaits to take you there.

Listen

They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Mark 9:30-32

Think

If Jesus was “teaching his disciples,” why are they suddenly afraid to ask their teacher a simple question? Maybe this lesson was sounding like something they had already heard yesterday, so they were texting in class on their iPhones, not really paying attention, when suddenly it got very quiet, and they realized Jesus was looking at the class. Andrew wanted to ask, “Could you repeat that last part?” and James wanted to know, “Is this going to be on the test?” Maybe they were afraid it would reveal they weren’t paying attention, so they didn’t say anything.

Or maybe they were afraid this was a pop quiz. They had seen what had happened when Peter gave the wrong answer on the field trip to Caesarea Philippi, so they just looked around the circle at each other and waited.

We’ve all heard the phrase: “The only dumb question is the one you don’t ask.” That’s because teachers want their students to really understand what they are trying to learn. Rest assured that Jesus still welcomes questions from disciples today and every day because he wants them to understand. Any questions?

Steve Cothran

Pray

Lord, teach me to question fearlessly because I know that you are the Truth. Amen.

Go

Go now with great confidence that the Spirit who has led you so far will continue to lead you into your future. Stay alert to any new direction the Spirit might take you, and then go willingly, with delight in new discovery!