Spiritual Amnesia: Why We Forget God’s Faithfulness | Mark 8:14-21

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today’s shout-out goes to Jim Travato from Brentwood, CA. Jim, your partnership with us through Project 23 is helping us and others remember what God has done in the past and will do in the future. This study is for you.

Our text today is Mark 8:14-21:

Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” — Mark 8:14-21

The disciples forget bread. Again.

And as they’re grumbling about lunch, Jesus gives them a deeper warning:

“Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod.”

But they miss the point. They think Jesus is mad because they forgot the food. Jesus isn’t talking about carbs. He’s talking about corruption. Leaven was a metaphor. Just a pinch of it affects the whole loaf. And just a pinch of pride, hypocrisy, and unbelief—like that of the Pharisees and Herod—can corrupt the soul.

But the disciples are stuck in their heads on bread. So Jesus hits them with a list of questions:

Don’t you understand?
Are your hearts hardened?
Didn’t you see the miracles?
Don’t you remember what I did with five loaves? With seven?

They had seen the power of Jesus multiply what little they had. But somehow—they still worried there wouldn’t be enough.

The danger wasn’t the lack of bread—it was the lack of belief. And that’s the same danger we face today. You’ve seen Jesus provide—but you still stress about tomorrow. You’ve seen Jesus' power—but still act like it’s all up to you. You’ve watched Jesus move—but forget by the time the next challenge hits.

That’s spiritual amnesia. And Jesus calls it out in the lives of his disciples and ours.

But Jesus is not frustrated by your questions. He’s grieved by your forgetfulness. Because when you forget what God has done, you start depending on yourself again.

So, pause today. Remember the baskets in your life. Remember the miracles he has done in the past. Remember what he did with your “not enough.” And let that memory build your trust today. Then, keep believing and moving forward.

#RememberGod, #FaithNotFear, #Mark8

ASK THIS:

1. What “basket moments” have you forgotten?
2. How does forgetting God’s past provision affect today’s faith?
3. What does “leaven” look like in your life today?
4. How can you train your heart to remember?

DO THIS:

Write down three things God has provided for you this year—and thank him for each one.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, forgive me for forgetting Your past faithfulness. Help me remember who You are—and trust You with what’s next. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Do It Again” by Elevation Worship.