Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!" - Mark 9:24
This father brings his son to Jesus who has, from childhood, suffered from a spirit that would seize him causing him to be mute, foam at his mouth, and grind his teeth. You can almost feel the desperation this father must have felt, watching his son for years be controlled by this spirit. We then find out that he has already taken his son to see Jesus' disciples but they were unable to heal the boy. But still desperate for change, he believes Jesus has the power to heal his boy. After bringing him to Jesus he finally submits his request saying,
"But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Not exactly a statement of firm faith, 'if you can do anything'. I see so much of my self in this father.
Read More"...take every thought captive to obey Christ." - 2nd Corinthians 10:5
So often this is where the battle for the soul takes place, in my thought life. There is an intensity about Paul's diligent and intentional devotion toward Christ. Everything in Paul's life was an intentional step toward the will of God. Every thought, every action, and every impulse in Jesus' life was taken captive for the will of God. He did nothing out of thoughtless action. His life was so intertwined in the heart of God that Jesus could do nothing apart from God.
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Read More "The impotence of 'systems' is a main reason why Jesus did not send his students out to start governments or even churches as we know them today, which always strongly convey some elements of a human system. They were, instead, to establish beachheads of his person, word, and power in the midst of a failing and futile humanity. They were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life simply by fully living in the kingdom with him.
Churches are not the kingdom of God, but are primary and inevitable expressions, outposts, and instrumentalities of the presence of the kingdom among us. They are 'societies' of Jesus, springing up in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the furthest point on earth (Acts 1:8)." - Dallas Willard
Read MoreI think I may have an unhealthy obsession with thinking about the end of my life. I have always wondered what I will be known for after I die. It is one of the questions that propels me to try and live differently. And the more I read about Jesus, and the more I read the writers of the New Testament, it becomes clear that as Christians above all things, we should be known for the way we love.
In verse 7 of 1st Corinthians 13, Paul describes love this way, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." Paul sandwiches the words “believes” and “hopes” in between “bears” and “endures” and without a doubt he did so intentionally...
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