Reading:

Mark 9:14-29

“The people…were greatly amazed” — Why? And what (if anything) amazes people about me?

“Thy disciples…could not” — Why not? And did Jesus expect better of them? More importantly, what of God’s assigned work am I not able to do? And what’s the solution?

“O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?” — I want Jesus with me as long as I need Him!

“Have compassion on us, and help us” — not on my merits, but on Christ’s alone. How sharp and everpresent is my awareness of my need of His compassion and help?

“All things are possible to him that believeth” — Too often my faith struggles to believe the fullness of that applies even to me. Am I prone to surrender my unbelief to God or to wallow miserably in it? “I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

“Enter no more into him” — Free indeed!

Why should I fast?

Reading:

Philippians 2:1-11

This mind in me: “Made himself of no reputation”?

This mind in me: “Took upon him the form of a servant”?

This mind in me: “He humbled himself”?

This mind in me: “Became obedient”?

If that mind is in me and if that mind is in you, we are likeminded!

I bow my knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.