Thoughts From the Bible

Read Mark 9: 14- 29   This story is a strong lesson for us as believers in Jesus Christ. The di sciples were ineffective in  attempting  to heal the boy in the story. The boy’s father ends up being a  key character because of his statement. In verses 23 and 24 we read,  ‘ (23)  Jesus said to  him, "If  you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (24) Immediately the father of the c hild cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”’   The father believed in  Jesus,  but the father also knew he had questions  about his belief. This can be  very complicated . One thought is that we humans live in such a finite  world,  and we have learned within a finite world. Jesus sees the fini te world but knows the spiritual world and knows the workings of faith and how the spiritual world  impacts  the finite, physical world.  My role is to continue to believe in the pow...

Read Matthew 15: 28-   31 - There were many people fol lowing Jesus through the country. Jesus was performing miracles. He was doing things no one had ever seen before. Jesus was also teaching them things the religious leaders were not .  The key thing that was written about all that Jesus was doing was what was written in the 31 st verse, ‘ so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.’ When we see the hand of God mo ve in our lives or the lives of others, we need to do as these people did and glorify God.  

Read Matthew 15: 21- 28- How much do I believe in Jesus Christ? Is spiritual belief measured on a continuum where there are small amounts of faith and large amou nts of faith? Jesus recognized the faith of a woman desperate for Jesus to touch her daughter. In verses 27 and 28 we read this, ‘She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even t he dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your fai th! Be it done for you as you desire .” And her daughter was healed instantly.’ Jesus was looking to teach His disciples a lesson on faith and belief in Him , and I think Jesus wanted to recognize the woman’s energetic faith in Him. I have been praying for some people who appear to be in impossible situations. I have been praying for those people for many months, yet their situations have not changed. There are also many people praying for those people in need. Is it that our faith that is lacking? I do not believe my faith is not high enough o...