# 535 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 9:18 "And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."
I think so much of what is going on here concerns the reality of the two natures present in the baptized followers of Jesus. The father has brought his afflicted son to Jesus, but Jesus wasn't there when he arrived, and so he asked these freshly empowered disciples (remember He had given them “authority over unclean spirits” Mark 6:7) to deliver his boy.
Well, they tried but “they could not” evict the demon. The ESV says , “and they were not able,” some versions state that they “had not the strength.” How is is that possible? The strength was there! It had been given to them by Jesus!
It is only possible if the disciples are leaning on something other than the power Jesus has bestowed upon them. They were relying on the power and strength of themselves, (the old man). And the old man is no match for the devil and his demons, in fact, he is in cahoots with him, and there is no way he can cast out himself. (Mr 3:23)
Our heart is deceitful above all things and many times we think we are relying on Jesus but in reality our flesh is calling the shots. Such reliance always spells defeat. How can you tell the difference? Maybe it's those times when we actually see that mountain tumble into the sea. Maybe the difference is in the results.
Father, I am so easily fooled by my flesh, that old man in me. Help me better discern Your will and give me the faith necessary to rely on it in whatever comes my way today.
No comments :
Post a Comment