Devotional: How Long Mark 9:14-29

“And He answered them and said, ‘O unbelieving generation how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me !” (Mk. 9:19, NASB).

I am reading one of the daily devotions that I receive by email. The author is emphasizing that there are times when we need to walk away from a person. Also, there are times when we need to allow people to walk away from us. The author cites several passages of scripture to illustrate his point. Jesus allows a rich young ruler to walk away because He knows that the young man loves money.

As I reflect on what the author says I ask myself, why do people not walk away? Why do people stay when they know that they can walk away? Why does a wife stay with a husband that is addicted to alcohol and spends the money needed to pay the bills? Why does the husband stay with a wife that spends money unnecessarily shopping for things that she does not need? Some call these people co dependents. Yet, I have heard some people say that they stay because they love the person in spite of their shortcomings.

In 1966 famous recording artist Lou Rawls records the song Love Is a Hurting Thing. The song describes that in every positive situation there is a corresponding negative situation. Rawls says, “For every little kiss there’s a little teardrop, for every single thrill there’s another heartache.” At the end of the song Rawls confesses that love means taking a risk. Love is wanting someone even though there is the risk of having your heart broke. So how long should one stay before they leave? Rawls says that love is a mystery that nobody can explain.

In our scripture passage Jesus return from a mountaintop experience with three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John. They return to the valley and they see a large crowd of people arguing with the other nine disciples. Jesus investigates the situation and learns that a man has brought his son to the disciples to be healed, but they were unable to heal the boy. Jesus asked the question “how long”? How long must Jesus be with a people that is unbelieving? How long must Jesus put up with my mess? How long must Jesus put up with my faults and failures? How long must Jesus bear with my acts of sins when I respond to the sin nature in me? How long will Jesus wait for me to act according to the Spirit of love?

I think that the answer is found in the word love described in Galatians 5:22-23. Jesus bears with us because God loves us. Love is not limited by time. Thus, the question “how long” is a rhetorical question. It is a question that requires no definite answer. It is a question that we must ask ourselves and seriously consider. It is a question that can be answered through prayer.

Prayer: God our Father we thank You for the question “how long”.