Third Week of Lent – Saturday
March 30, 2019
From Presbyterian Outlook Devotions, Jill Duffield, Editor
Luke 9:37-43
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39 Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." 41 Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." 42 While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
This story highlights Jesus’ power, but it contains a rebuke that is difficult for disciples then and now to hear. The disciples could not heal the boy and Jesus calls them out for their lack of faith. Do we, too, lack faith in ways that prevent us from participating in the healing of the world? What might we do if we truly believed that through Christ all things are possible?
Lord God, you promise us that if we ask we will receive. You tell your disciples that you give them power to do the very ministry you did: preaching, teaching, healing. Move us this day to be just a little bolder, braver and courageous for the sake of the gospel. Amen.