It seems that this is Guest Week here at Requisite Danger… I didn’t plan it or try to make it into a guest week, I just kept finding posts, articles and/or emails from folks that I felt needed to be shared.  🙂

Along those lines, I pray that you will be blessed by this short email post by my mentor and good friend Larry Pew.

Coming Down From the Mountain by Larry Pew

Jesus ran into and rebuked “this unbelieving generation” when he came down off the mountain (Mt 17:17, Mk 9:19, Lk 9:41) – as did Moses, when he brought the Big 10 with him (Ex 32). Elijah also rebuked the unbelieving generation when he had killed off the false prophets on Mt. Carmel and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot into the wrath of Jezebel (1 Kings 18-19).

This unbelieving generation may mean more than just those folks arguing with the disciples; it may mean all generations that do not believe what is happening in their time (those in Moses’ time did not enter the promised land because of their unbelief, and of course Jezebel came to a bad end being thrown out that window and dogs ate her up).

We are still in the midst of an unbelieving generation so when we come down off the mountain with Jesus (like a walk to Emmaus or Plumbline or Pastors retreat) run right into that same generation.

Also, “on that kind only comes out with prayer” – How can the disciples pray when being yelled at by this unbelieving generation?

Even Jesus took people aside away from everyone when praying for their healing (Mk 7) or raising the dead (Mk 5)…

So, when he says privately to his disciples what to do, maybe we have mystified this statement to be way more than it really is? Maybe Jesus through Mark is reminding us that we should have as much as possible an atmosphere of faith to pray…

You and I have both not had that luxury when all hell is breaking loose with our loved ones in the hospital, in the homes of broken people, or on the street or even heaven forbid right in the sanctuary.  I guess that is where Paul says, pray at all times without ceasing, and being prayed up as the old timers say.