My Favorite Verses - Vol III (Aug 16 to Nov 16)

Mark 9:23 … All things can be Done
(10/30/2016)
“If you are able, all things can be done for one who Believes.”
~ Jesus (Mark 9:23)
This verse can be quite misleading (and has indeed misled more than a few) until
one remembers how Jesus actually believed about Belief. You see, for Jesus at
least, Belief had nothing at all to do with mental reverence or verbal professions of
worship … No … For Jesus, Belief was an action; a verb; an open leap of faith; a
vibrant emulation of the Way of the Truth of his Life (see John 13:15-17 et al) …
Yes, for Jesus at least, Belief was either active or it was nothing. And because for
him it was an active reflection of his teachings – teachings that focused almost
solely on encouraging others (actually in-Courage-ing others) to perform deeds of
self-sacrificial Love, the only thing that those who are Believing in such a manner
can wish for is the opportunity to serve others -- the opportunity to reach out and
Care -- the opportunity to Forgive an enemy -- the opportunity to Give one's last
two pennies to the poor …
As such, this verse is not a call to rationalized selfishness at all – not at all a
justification of the hollow & morally feeble “Prosperity Gospel” … Instead, it is a
call for us to truly BELIEVE – an encouragement to know that we can all
effectuate great Goodness for those in need, and an in-Courage-ment for us all to
go forth into our lives and do just that.
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