Scripture
And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”
— Mark 9:19 (ESV)
Devotional
Despairingly the poor disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means had failed, but the miserable child was soon delivered from the evil one when the parent in faith obeyed the Lord Jesus’ word, “Bring him unto me.” Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents; they may be filled with the Spirit of God, or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one receipt for the curing of all their ills, “Bring him unto me.” O for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes! Sin is there, let our prayers begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries which betoken their actual advent into a world of sin. In the days of their youth we shall see sad tokens of that dumb and deaf spirit which will neither pray aright, nor hear the voice of God in the soul, but Jesus still commands, “Bring them unto me.” When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God; then when our hearts are breaking we should remember the great Physician’s words, “Bring them unto me.” Never must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives. The Lord sometimes suffers his people to be driven into a corner that they may experimentally know how necessary he is to them. Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerlessness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the strong for strength, and this is a great blessing to us. Whatever our morning’s need may be, let it like a strong current bear us to the ocean of divine love. Jesus can soon remove our sorrow, he delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to him while he waits to meet us.
Reflection
Disciples failed. Means failed. The father still heard one word that works: Bring him unto Me. That is the receipt for the child, the crisis, and the corner you cannot fix. Jesus is not a last resort after technique. He is the Physician who delights to meet the need that finally drives you to Him. No case is hopeless while He lives. Carry the sorrow like a current into the ocean of His love.
Goad
Who—or what—are you still trying to heal without actually bringing them to Jesus this morning?
Tie-In
Morning says bring the impossible case to Jesus. Evening says encourage the weary brother on the road. Carry them to Him. Then speak courage to those still walking. Both are how His people serve under His word.
Closing
Spurgeon’s classic text with a brief reflection to help today’s reader.
If these words have stirred something, sit with it.
NewGrapes Ministries. Making disciples, not pew-fillers. Soli Deo Gloria.