Teacher, I Bring You My Children

And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.

Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him.

And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"

Then one of the crowd answered and said,

"Teacher, I brought You my son,

who has a mute spirit.

"And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."

Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood.

"And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

Jesus said to him,

"If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Immediately the father of the child cried out

and said with tears,

"Lord, I believe;

help my unbelief!"

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!"

Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead."

But Jesus took him by the hand

and lifted him up,

and he arose.

Mark 9:14-27

I do not pray enough for my children!

Instead, I work tirelessly at trying to "fix" issues in their lives. Trying to change them. Trying to be their "God" and convict them of their sin.

This has been burdening my heart lately. And then I came across this Scripture the other morning, and God opened my eyes to His beautiful Truth.

Verse 17 sung out to me.

"Teacher, I brought You my son."

This man knew how to help his son. He brought him to Jesus. And he does not refer to Jesus as Healer, which our Savior is often called, or even Lord, but the man called Him Teacher.

Not only did this man bring his son to Jesus, the only One he knew could help him, but he brought him in hopes that Jesus would teach him how to help his son.

This father was desperate. He was at the end of his rope, so to speak. He had no doubt sought out out countless other options, as we learn that the boy has been suffering this way since childhood. The man even sought help from Jesus' disciples. Yet, because of their own wavering faith, they were unable to cast out the demon. This desperate father had nowhere else to turn.

So he turned to Jesus.

Yet, still not confident in the mighty power of God, he said, "If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

Jesus, the Lover of our souls, knew this man's heart. He said to him, "if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." Jesus knew the man had already shown a leap of faith by bringing his son to Him. However, Jesus also knew this man still had significant unbelief.

Yet, if we can believe, ALL things are possible!

That's all it takes! All I need to do is believe.

Believe that God is sovereign.

Believe that God is faithful.

Believe that God keeps His promises.

Believe that God is working out ALL things for my good, and the good of my family.

Believe that God has His loving hand in every part of my life, and the lives of my children.

Believe that God is good, ALL THE TIME!

This father believed and yet knew his belief was imperfect. He cried out to Jesus to help his unbelief. He cried out to the Teacher.

Lord, teach me to believe.

Lord, teach me to bring my children to You, and to believe in Your incredible power to supply all that we need no matter what situation we face. Lord, teach me to grasp hold of Your grace and cling to Your hand each step of the way. Lord, heal the wounds I have inflicted in my children as I have tried so tirelessly at "fixing" them. Lord, help me to believe that all things are possible to him who believes.

Lord, I lift my children up to You. And I rest in Your sovereign plan for their lives. And I am blessed in the confidence that You are working great and mighty things out for their good.

Teacher, I bring You my children.

And I believe.