Today’s scripture: Mark 9:23-24 (NRSV) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Penny Dean):
I work as an auditor for an oil company. That means I have to have proof: proof that a manager knows his inventory, proof that he’s doing his job, and proof that the store is operating profitably. I cannot do my job based on guesswork, hunches, or good intentions. There must be black and white evidence. I must know.
Yet my favorite bible passage is about belief, which is not as concrete as knowledge.
Knowledge, according to the Oxford Dictionary of Current English, is the “awareness gained by experience of a fact or situation.” I have to perform an audit to know the facts surrounding a store or its manager.
Belief, on the other hand, is defined as “a feeling that something exists or is true.” I can believe a manager is doing a good job or a store is well-run without auditing a location. But, if I believe a store has a problem that requires an audit, I must obtain knowledge first-hand. In other words, belief often leads to knowledge.
In these two verses, Jesus says, “Start somewhere. If you can do that, you can do anything.” The father who brought his son to Jesus for healing had already started: He brought his son to Jesus for healing. Then took the next step and asked for help. “Help my unbelief.”
One step at a time we can move from belief to knowledge. That willingness makes all things possible.
Thought for the day: What first step do you believe you need to take?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.