Mark 9:14-29—Christian faith is needed when confronted by demon possession. The devil can make life a living hell on earth. With this boy it had been a long painful struggle “from childhood.” How often had his family heard the indictments? “He’s a challenge. There’s something about him. You know, that boy’s not right!”
Each of us has struggles and crosses – those areas of our lives where the devil will strike us hard. Even in “secular” language we are comfortable saying, “…these are demons we must battle.” There are those places in our lives where the devil knows we are weak. Places, where if we would visit will not be a safe place but a dangerous place for we can sense his attempt to destroy us. Out of a sense of survival we might say, “I won’t go there,” and, if we must, a friend might say, ‘She’s in a bad place.”
With this young man, the devil tried to burn him in the fire and yet another time he almost drowned. These were not merely “battle scares” this young man had accrued. This was an onslaught the devil had leashed upon him. These were not isolated incidents but continued blows this poor man had received.
Do you know your weaknesses? The devil knows them – better than we know them ourselves. Our struggle, says St. Paul, “is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:16) Know your enemy! “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) Know your enemy well. Better yet, run to the safe arms of the Savior for salvation and life.
For additional reading see Romans 8:35-39
Almighty God, do not cast away Your people who cry to You in their distress and tribulation, but for the glory of Your name be please to help and deliver them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Luther's Seal copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
Prayer from Lutheran Service Book copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing St. Louis
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