Evening, September 23

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"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
   canst 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
   tonight?