Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 5, 2024
Mark 9:14-21
14 When Jesus, Peter, James, and John approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them and legal experts arguing with them. 15 Suddenly the whole crowd caught sight of Jesus. They ran to greet him, overcome with excitement. 16 Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about?” 17 Someone from the crowd responded, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, since he has a spirit that doesn’t allow him to speak. 18 Wherever it overpowers him, it throws him into a fit. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and stiffens up. So I spoke to your disciples to see if they could throw it out, but they couldn’t.” 19 Jesus answered them, “You faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20 They brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a fit. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been going on?” He said, “Since he was a child. 22 It has often thrown him into a fire or into water trying to kill him. If you can do anything, help us! Show us compassion!” 23 Jesus said to him, “‘If you can do anything’? All things are possible for the one who has faith.” 24 At that the boy’s father cried out, “I have faith; help my lack of faith!” 25 Noticing that the crowd had surged together, Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 After screaming and shaking the boy horribly, the spirit came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people said that he had died. 27 But Jesus took his hand, lifted him up, and he arose. 28 After Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we throw this spirit out?” 29 Jesus answered, “Throwing this kind of spirit out requires prayer.”
Good Morning! Blessed are those you have not seen but believe.
Faith! It is easy to claim and nurture faith when all things are going well. The Bible is filled with stories of those who have great faith and those who lack faith. We want to have faith, but sometimes logic gets in the way. From childhood, we spend our time on earth learning the parameters and constructs of how things work. We learn the absolutes that define our world. For example, fire burns, and without oxygen fire is extinguished.
Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead, and we say that he lacked faith. Peter began to sink in the water as he walked to Jesus, and we say he lacked faith. When anyone succumbs to despair and temptation, we say they lack faith.
We are quick to point out a lack of faith in others. In this parable, Jesus speaks of the unfaithful. The boy’s father says, “I have faith; help my lack of faith!” Wow! How many possibilities lie beyond the boundaries of our faith?
I will leave you this morning with this story. When we entered our church last January the day after the fire, everything was blackened and blistered from the flames and heat. On our altar table, standing tall was a wax candle: the Christ candle. Everything else on this table was covered in soot and debris. All that remained of the altar candles were the wicks, yet the Christ candle remained. Only by the grace of God is that possible. That candle remains a stark reminder that God has the power to overcome that which man deems impossible. Some see this and see the destruction. I see this and praise our almighty God!
Gracious God, Thank you for this beautiful gift of life. Oh God, you save us from ourselves. We thank you! In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: When we face turbulent waters, God never leaves nor forsakes us.
God, help our lack of faith! Pastor Liz
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