Devotion for August 06, 2011 – Matters of the Heart
Today's Scripture Reading
Mark 9:14-27
Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father,“How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
Today's Devotion
Prayer of the Heart
Where, knowing the joy and freedom of believing, hearts unfold like flowers before thee—opening, inviting, enlisting, equipping, loving, and believing hearts, stewards in matters of the heart, yours and ours.
God, we believe. Help thou our unbelief, that we may know the greater joy in believing, loving, and serving thee.
Today's devotion was shared by
Rev. L. Eugene Brown
Today's devotion was written by Rev. L. Eugene Brown, a much-loved Disciples of Christ pastor and pastor leader with a long list of service to local congregations and the general church. He now lives in retirement in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and is a member of Downey Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This prayer, used by permission, is from A Memoried People, Remembering, Made Whole (Author House Publishing, 1984), page 55.