Today’s Devotion
Topic: Help Me Overcome My Unbelief!
Text: Mark 9: 23b
“Everything is possible for him who believes”. Amen
After the transfiguration, Jesus, Peter, James and John came to the other disciples and saw a large crowd around as the teachers of the law were arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. “What are you arguing with them about?” Jesus asked.
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
Jesus asked that they bring the boy to Him. However, when the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. So Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“’If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 14- 24)
Beloved, it is unfortunate that the father of this possessed boy mistakenly asked the Mighty Jesus if He was able to heal the son. You see, he had suffered over the years helplessly looking on while demons plagued his son.
His hopes were resurrected when he heard Jesus and His disciples were delivering equally possessed people with great power and zeal. So he had brought his son. But judging from the way the 9 disciples had handled the deliverance session, he is not too sure now if there was any more hope.
Not only could they not cast the evil spirits out, they have turned his son’s predicament into some baseless religious arguements with the teachers of the law and now a crowd is gathering around his sick son. He feels hopeless and distraught.
You have been there before, haven’t you? That uncomfortable position where you try all you can to help a situation to no avail, so you give up. In times like that, you find your own faith basket empty of hope although you seriously need a solution.
The troubled man, out of his anguish, told Jesus “if you can do anything, anything at all, take pity on us and help us”. Please note that Jesus repeated what he said to him in a question form; “if you can?” Jesus didn’t say “if I can?”; simply because there is no question about Jesus’ ability to do. He can’t even bring Himself to doubt what He can do. He is the Almighty God. Of course He can! The problem is with us, not Him. Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief”.
Dearly beloved, it is true that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Yet our Father, out of His mighty love, is able to help us overcome our unbelief so that we can receive blessings from Him. Good news right?
Therefore don’t feel bad that your faith is very small. It can still move mountains. However, if your faith is very weak, like that of the sick boy’s father, ask God to help you trust Him fully and He will. God desires more than anything to bless us and He will do anything to have us receive from Him, if we will let Him.
Begin to pray now, ask God to give you the strength and grace to completely believe in Him. Study His word to grow in faith and maintain a great fellowship with the Holy Spirit through prayer and fasting. Always remember that God has no problems, we do. And that, everything is possible for him who believes. Arise, let’s meet us church. Click: https://youtu.be/LR8y8VdHklo
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