Spurgeon: September PM
* 09/23/PM
"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe."
--Mark 9:23
A certain man had a demoniac son, who was afflicted with a
dumb spirit. The father, having seen the futility of the
endeavours of the disciples to heal his child, had little or no
faith in Christ, and therefore, when he was bidden to bring his
son to Him, he said to Jesus, "If Thou cast do anything, have
compassion on us, and help us." Now there was an "if" in the
question, but the poor trembling father had put the "if" in the
wrong place: Jesus Christ, therefore, without commanding him to
retract the "if," kindly puts it in its legitimate position.
"Nay, verily," He seemed to say, "there should be no 'if' about
My power, nor concerning My willingness, the 'if' lies somewhere
else." " If thou canst believe , all things are possible to him
that believeth." The man's trust was strengthened, he offered a
humble prayer for an increase of faith, and instantly Jesus
spoke the word, and the devil was cast out, with an injunction
never to return. There is a lesson here which we need to learn.
We, like this man, often see that there is an "if" somewhere,
but we are perpetually blundering by putting it in the wrong
place. " If " Jesus can help me--" if " He can give me grace to
overcome temptation--" if " He can give me pardon--" if " He can
make me successful? Nay, " if " you can believe, He both can and
will. You have misplaced your "if." If you can confidently
trust, even as all things are possible to Christ, so shall all
things be possible to you. Faith standeth in God's power, and is
robed in God's majesty; it weareth the royal apparel, and rideth
on the King's horse, for it is the grace which the King
delighteth to honour. Girding itself with the glorious might of
the all-working Spirit, it becomes, in the omnipotence of God,
mighty to do, to dare, and to suffer. All things, without limit,
are possible to him that believeth. My soul, canst thou believe
thy Lord to-night?