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Morning and Evening

September 23, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe." — Mark 9:23 · KJV

A certain man had a demon-possessed son afflicted with a mute spirit. The father, having seen how useless the disciples' efforts were to heal his child, had little or no faith in Christ; and so, when he was told to bring his son, he said to Jesus, "If Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us." Now there was an "if" in the plea, but the poor trembling father had put the "if" in the wrong place. Jesus, therefore, without telling him to withdraw the "if," kindly moves it to its proper place. "No, indeed," He seems to say, "there should be no 'if' about My power, nor about 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 more faith, and at once Jesus spoke the word, the devil was cast out, and charged never to return. Here is a lesson we need to learn. Like this man, we often see there is an "if" somewhere, but we keep 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? No; "if" you can believe, He both can and will. You have misplaced your "if." If you can confidently trust, then, even as all things are possible to Christ, so shall all things be possible to you. Faith stands in God's power and is robed in God's majesty; it wears the royal apparel and rides on the King's horse, for it is the grace the King delights to honor. 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 believes. My soul, can you believe your Lord tonight?