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Leg 2 Day 68
Reliant For Life
Jesus Among Us
Scripture:
Mark 9:14-29
MARK 9:14–29 (nlt)
When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. “How long has this been happen- ing?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
SEE ALSO: MATTHEW 17:14–21; LUKE 9:37–42
Life Lessons from Jesus:
God doesn’t send us off to do our own thing, relying on our own powers and abilities. Although He empowers us, we have to remember that we are still reliant on Him—always. That reality doesn’t change, regardless of how long we’ve been walking with Jesus or how much we’ve done through Him.
Sometimes, in the early days of knowing God, our faith is more open to Him, more welcoming of His help. And God responds to this! He often does more with a person who has newfound faith than He does with someone who has been a longtime believer but has started believing they are doing the work rather than God. No matter where you are in your journey with Jesus, it’s always about Him—believing in Him and what He can do. It’s not about us.
The disciples were pretty confused when they couldn’t help this father and son. They kept trying to do it themselves, and they became frustrated. When you become frustrated because it seems like something you want to do for God isn’t working, it’s probably time to pray, because faith isn’t about doing what we want. Faith is about doing what God wants.
Anything is possible for someone who truly believes. And in the spirit of this devoted father, it’s always good to reach out to God when we sense our faith dwindling. When believing feels like too much, too impossible, just ask God for help.
The WAY:
Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:
The disciples in this story who lacked faith had been away from Jesus. What do you think proximity to Jesus has to do with the strength of our faith?
In what situation do you feel the need to pray the prayer of the father in this story: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”?
What issue in your life needs consistent prayer these days?
Prayer:
Jesus, I have faith in You, but some areas of my faith are still weak. Help me to overcome my unbelief. I am powerless by myself. It’s all You. Help me to rely on You fully, and strengthen my faith in You. In Your name, amen.