Post by Woody Williams on Sept 13, 2006 5:22:22 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Matthew 17:14-21
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When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and
said, 'Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he
suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the
water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure
him.' Jesus answered, 'You faithless and perverse generation, how
much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with
you? Bring him here to me.' And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came
out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came
to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said
to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you
have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,
"Move from here to there", and it will move; and nothing will be
impossible for you.'
Devotional
----------
Faith that trusts the power and purpose is the faith that moves
mountains. Jesus is not speaking of the faith that saves, that trusts
in God's forgiving love. He chides the disciples for not trusting God
for what they were doing, praying for the healing of the boy. Jesus
puts emphasis on the faith of the prayer and not on the one being
prayed for.
Prayer
---------------------
Increase my faith and discernment in pursuing your will in my
praying, Lord. Amen
----------
When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and
said, 'Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he
suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the
water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure
him.' Jesus answered, 'You faithless and perverse generation, how
much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with
you? Bring him here to me.' And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came
out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came
to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said
to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you
have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain,
"Move from here to there", and it will move; and nothing will be
impossible for you.'
Devotional
----------
Faith that trusts the power and purpose is the faith that moves
mountains. Jesus is not speaking of the faith that saves, that trusts
in God's forgiving love. He chides the disciples for not trusting God
for what they were doing, praying for the healing of the boy. Jesus
puts emphasis on the faith of the prayer and not on the one being
prayed for.
Prayer
---------------------
Increase my faith and discernment in pursuing your will in my
praying, Lord. Amen