JAVA WITH JOE

From disbelief in Your love
and presence...
Deliver me, Jesus.

Anything<Everything.

Jesus doesn’t just want anything you might have to give, He wants everything.

Jesus can’t just do anything, He can do everything.

In the 9th chapter of Mark’s Gospel, there’s a boy being possessed by a demon. The boy’s father says to Jesus, “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus’ reply makes me chuckle a bit. In Seinfeld-fashion, Jesus repeats what was said to him - almost as if to say, ‘did I hear you correctly?’.

“ ‘If you can!’ ”, Jesus answers. “Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Then the Father cries out a really human response. It’s a surge of confidence mixed with some doubt. It’s a cocktail of faith that’s a little watered down but he has the humility to admit it could be stronger.

“I do believe, help my unbelief!”

…

We’re told in the scriptures that “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8) and that Jesus’ name, Emmanuel, means “God with us” (Matt 1:23).

Love is with us. Love is in us. Love is always by our side. However, sometimes we have trouble seeing that truth and the only thing we can do is say, “Lord, I do believe! …but please help me believe more.”

When the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn’t drive out the demon on their own, He said to them in verse 29: “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

And when we neglect to pray, neglect to come to him every day for strength, and then ask Him why our faith isn’t the kind that’s strong enough to handle life’s storms, He replies “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

Please consider sharing a story from this week which grew from your daily cup of Java with Joe!

Email to: info@thetentengroup.com

Want to donate to help JAVA WITH JOE continue? Visit here.