All things are possible for one who believes. – Mark 9:23
The Blythe family writes music and lyrics and then perform their songs in a family ministry. Brother and sister, Richard and Sandy Blythe, take the process of songwriting seriously, feeling that each song should be a “sermon with a melody.” One such song is titled “Jesus Walks the Troubled Waters.” The first stanza says, “When doubts and fears assail me and on life’s sea I’m tossed, when storm clouds are gathering low, when it seems all hope is ended and all my courage lost, Jesus walks the troubled waters of my soul.”
Peter, James, and John had spent time on a high mountain with Jesus when He was transfigured before them. They’d had a real mountaintop experience with the Lord! Shortly afterward, a man brought his son to Jesus for healing. The boy was mute and suffered seizures. The man said he’d asked the disciples to cast out the evil spirit from the boy, but they were not able. Jesus turned to the disciples and asked, “How long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” Whether directed toward the disciples or the boy’s father, perhaps both, He then said anything is possible for those who believe. Then Jesus healed the boy.
Mountaintop experiences are glorious. Reality sets in thereafter, and faith often falters. Jesus’ message is clear: Keep that level of faith that was present on the mountaintop and He will enable you to do great things. Let God’s truth and the presence of the Holy Spirit be your confidence so that fears and doubts give way to calm. Pray for Christians in government to keep a strong connection with the Lord in faith.
Today’s Verse: Mark 9:23
And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Mark 9:14-27
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
