Not always easy ... but always worth it
Mark 9
I’m impressed by the fact that the father discerned his son was possessed by a spirit which took his son’s speech. I want to have this kind of discernment in regard to issues. Had I been the parent, I might’ve thought my child was ‘just’ speech-impaired and epileptic. It’s important to know when it’s deeper than that.
Everything is possible as long as I believe. Let me not forget that. No challenge my children might face - or anything else - is impossible for the Lord to heal and take care of.
‘This kind can come out only by prayer [and fasting].’ Reminder of why these spiritual disciplines are important, even when we don’t feel like it or don’t have a great need at the time. You don’t enter a boxing ring for a match when you haven’t been training. Makes total sense.
Numbers 33:55
‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, this you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your side. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.’
Mark 9:43
‘If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.’
Similar messages for me in both Testaments today. Things I know I should completely get rid of that I want to hold onto for a little longer. I think I now really understand the Matthew 9 scripture in a way I hadn’t before. Getting rid of things that are endearing but sinful really hurts! It’s almost like actually maiming yourself. But what makes more sense: maiming yourself but gaining eternal life - or not bothering to do so, but missing heaven?
It hurts so badly sometimes, Lord. But I’ll keep trying.
I’m impressed by the fact that the father discerned his son was possessed by a spirit which took his son’s speech. I want to have this kind of discernment in regard to issues. Had I been the parent, I might’ve thought my child was ‘just’ speech-impaired and epileptic. It’s important to know when it’s deeper than that.
Everything is possible as long as I believe. Let me not forget that. No challenge my children might face - or anything else - is impossible for the Lord to heal and take care of.
‘This kind can come out only by prayer [and fasting].’ Reminder of why these spiritual disciplines are important, even when we don’t feel like it or don’t have a great need at the time. You don’t enter a boxing ring for a match when you haven’t been training. Makes total sense.
Numbers 33:55
‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, this you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your side. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live.’
Mark 9:43
‘If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.’
Similar messages for me in both Testaments today. Things I know I should completely get rid of that I want to hold onto for a little longer. I think I now really understand the Matthew 9 scripture in a way I hadn’t before. Getting rid of things that are endearing but sinful really hurts! It’s almost like actually maiming yourself. But what makes more sense: maiming yourself but gaining eternal life - or not bothering to do so, but missing heaven?
It hurts so badly sometimes, Lord. But I’ll keep trying.
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