Belief

 

Mark 9:23 NIV

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

 

In context, Jesus was talking to a man who tentatively asked Jesus to deliver his son from his affliction. Jesus encouraged the man to have confidence in Him. He’s not saying we can get a private jet if we ask Him for it!

 

If we’re centred on Jesus, we won’t be centred on ourselves and selfish requests. It was fair enough for this man though to want his son to be delivered from his affliction. Jesus was happy to deliver the boy and restore him whole to his father.

 

The man responded that he did believe, but he was honest enough to ask God to help him with his unbelief. At best, all of us are a bundle of faith and doubt. We need God to help us overcome our doubt and to trust in Him.

 

How do we know if we have saving faith? Ultimately, it’s not dependent on us, it depends on God’s power to save. So even if we have a ‘mustard seed’ of faith, that is a gift of God, it is enough.

 

‘Dear Lord, please give us the faith we need to be delivered from our afflictions. For the honour of Your name we pray, amen’

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