Why does this generation ask for a sign?…Mark 8:12

The signs and wonders eventually waned and life returned to normal. There were no more all-night praise, worship, prayer and repentance meetings. Nevertheless, many people were changed forever because of encountering Jesus in a new and dynamic way. Others forgot about what they had experienced, and some even wrote off what they had experienced to emotionalism. Living in a time when the Holy Spirit is moving, and people are experiencing many miracles is a wonderful experience. I am certainly glad I got to experience a genuine revival once in my life.
In Mark 8 we have the record of Jesus miraculously feeding 4,000 people. After Jesus fed the crowds and sent them away, he crossed the lake and was met by some Pharisees who wanted him to give them a sign from heaven. Essentially, they were saying: "Do a miracle. Show us a sign and then we will believe in you." Jesus decided not to give them a sign and got back into the boat and went back across the lake.
Even the disciples missed the point of what was taking place through the miracles Jesus was performing. They were present when Jesus fed the 5,000 and later when he fed the 4,000. Because of these experiences one would think they would never again be concerned about what to eat when Jesus was around. Nevertheless, they became concerned when they discovered they had only one loaf of bread in the boat while they were journeying with Jesus. The impact of all the miraculous feedings of the multitudes was lost on the disciples. Unfortunately, like the disciples, the miracles that Jesus does in our midst do not necessarily instill faith for future miracles.
It is easy to disciple new believers in times of revival. It is more difficult when signs, wonders, and miracles cease, and people need to learn how to walk by faith.
It has been said: "When the going gets tough the tough get going." This is very true when it comes to discipleship. There is no other way to say it but to say: "discipleship is hard work." To be a disciple-maker takes time, energy, and commitment beyond what is required for most other tasks. But, as is often the case, the harder the work, the greater the reward. And there is no greater joy or reward than seeing someone you have discipled going on to disciple others.

Let's pray for all of the disciple-makers who are working hard to make more disciples. They need our support because the temptation to quit can be very strong because the work is often very hard work. 

K R Paton