Do you have faith?

Reflection

Sometimes people who claim to believe in God do a lot of religious actions: go to church, read the Bible and have various devotions. Today we must ask ourselves if our faith is real and not just a bunch of religious activities. We need to take a quiet moment and acknowledge our faith.

Scripture

Mark
Chapter: 9

Jesus Heals a Boy
(Matthew 17.14-20; Luke 9.37-43a)

 
¹⁴When Jesus and his three disciples came back down, they saw a large crowd around the other disciples. The teachers of the Law of Moses were arguing with them. 
¹⁵The crowd was really surprised to see Jesus, and everyone hurried over to greet him. 
¹⁶Jesus asked, "What are you arguing about?" 
¹⁷Someone from the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. A demon keeps him from talking.   ¹⁸Whenever the demon attacks my son, it throws him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth and grit his teeth in pain. Then he becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to force out the demon, but they couldn't do it." 
¹⁹Jesus said, "You people don't have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 
²⁰They brought the boy, and as soon as the demon saw Jesus, it made the boy shake all over. He fell down and began rolling on the ground and foaming at the mouth. 
²¹Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?"
The man answered, "Ever since he was a child.   ²²The demon has often tried to kill him by throwing him into a fire or into water. Please have pity and help us if you can!" 
²³Jesus replied, "Why do you say 'if you can'? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!" 
²⁴Right away the boy's father shouted, "I do have faith! Please help me to have even more." 
²⁵When Jesus saw that a crowd was gathering fast, he spoke sternly to the evil spirit that had kept the boy from speaking or hearing. He said, "I order you to come out of the boy! Don't ever bother him again." 
²⁶The spirit screamed and made the boy shake all over. Then it went out of him. The boy looked dead, and almost everyone said he was.   ²⁷But Jesus took hold of his hand and helped him stand up. 
²⁸After Jesus and the disciples had gone back home and were alone, they asked him, "Why couldn't we force out that demon?" 
²⁹Jesus answered, "Only prayer can force out that kind of demon." 

Prayer

Lord, strengthen my faith.  So many times I get caught up in doing many religious things, but I forget to continually renew my faith in you and your love for me.  Right now, I say to you, Lord, “I believe.”  Amen