Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Mark 9:24, ” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.’ ” 

Background

I have never had to endure a serious or dire prognosis from a doctor concerning one of my kids. We have had a potential head injury to one child that turned out to be fine, and a somewhat routine surgery on another to remove some benign tissue. But other than that, we have not been faced with any sense of immense uncertainty or grave doubt concerning the future health of our children. The closest we have come to receiving a report that healing was not imminent once a prescription had been taken was dealing with the slow process of getting rid of some warts from the bottom of one child’s feet, and the waiting game that is the healing of a broken wrist. Consequently, our visits to the pediatrician are usually far from unsettling. But there are those who have not been as fortunate. They have been told by doctors that only time will tell, that they will do all they can, that miracles happen all the time. They have experienced the earth-shattering news of terminal conclusions, of life-long conditions, of illnesses greater than the medicine of man. 

Application

And as if that news isn’t bad enough, the families must also endure the fact that there is nothing they can do to help fix their broken son or daughter, short of hoping and praying. And that is a hard place to be. And if your faith has a chink or two in it, the struggle can be that much more overwhelming. The dad of the possessed son was in a tough spot. The great Healer was seeing his child, but the news was troubling. Deliverance was possible, but it depended on the trust of the father. And since the dad knew his own heart, he knew the life of his son was hanging in the balance of his own doing. The father believed, but he also doubted. Which would determine the fate of his son? Would his trust stand firm, or would his doubt prevail? The battle raged, and the dad yielded, crying out in tears for Jesus to take him beyond himself. And Jesus did. Confessed doubt was no match for willing grace. It never has been, and it never will be. 

Charge

As we seek Him today, let Jesus turn your doubts and unbelief into moments of complete honesty and total victory. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words