Today is September 23 and I am reading what C. H. Spurgeon is writing in his book MORNING AND EVENING (Daily Readings). His text is Mark 9:23 where we read: “If you can, said Jesus.”

Spurgeon  is teaching us a lesson and I hope I have learned it.

A father who had a demoniac son said to the Lord Jesus Christ, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Jesus answered, “‘If you can,’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.'”

Spurgeon says that we are like the man who had the demoniac son, we are blundering by putting the “if” in the wrong place.

We say:

If you can, help me.

If you can, give me grace to overcome temptation.

If you can, give me pardon.

If you can, make me successful.

Spurgeon says that I have misplaced my “if.”

I should say:

If I can believe, the Lord can and will help me.

If  I can believe , the Lord can and will give me grace to overcome temptation.

If  I can believe, the Lord can and will give me pardon.

If  I can believe, the Lord can and will make me successful.

In the BiblesinAction NEW ZAEALAND September communication I am reading in a letter written by Issu Oumarou (National Director BiblesinAction, Niger): “FEWER THAN 1,000 OF THE 20,000 VILLAGES IN NIGER HAVE A CHURCH.”

On the way from our home here in Kaitaia to a certain church in this town  I pass three other churches. And there are many more within walking distance from our place.

In the BIBLE, the Word of the Living God it says in Matthew 28:19,20:

“THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.”