21 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Right on Target” Matthew 17:18-20

21 February 2008 Devotion for Today “Right on Target” Matthew 17:18-20

Perhaps you heard today of our navy’s heroic missile launch which destroyed an ailing spy satellite in outer space. I hope math teachers across the country will value this effort as it was a brilliant calculation of both quantum physics and calculus. The U.S.S. Lake Erie, a guided missile cruiser in the Pacific, would have to somehow intercept its S-3 missile, traveling at some 2000 mph, to hit the spy satellite, orbiting 130 miles high above the earth’s atmosphere and traveling 17000 mph. Also, the mission to destroy the satellite had to be fulfilled within a six-hour window of opportunity. The reason the ailing satellite was destroyed was because it contained over 1000 pounds of toxic fuel which would have been dangerous to life forms had it reached the ground. At 10:32pm on Wednesday, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that the missile had reached its target, and that the mission was a success. Time, distance, speed, and atmospheric conditions were all calculated to this successful outcome. The technology to perform such a feat would have been impossible a decade ago.

As daunting as the challenges of man may be upon him, we can continue to affirm what the Bible has always claimed about our faith in God.

“O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." 18Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:18-20)

Jesus’ disciples had been asked to intercept a demon and cast it out of a young boy, but they could not get the right calculation of faith and energy to bring to bear upon the situation. They had to call in the expert- Jesus-to drive the demon out of him. Jesus was somewhat disappointed with his disciple’s lack of aptitude in the situation because they could not grasp the principle of faith needed to bring about the positive result Thankfully the demon was expelled, and the boy was delivered. They did not have enough faith because inwardly, they thought what was being asked of them was impossible; perhaps they struggled with the thought that the problem really did not exist. Jesus had to “reeducate” them as to the reality they faced, and what the power of God could do over Satan’s power. Faith intercepted Satan’s demon and destroyed it. He makes no less available to us today.

May I ask you this morning, have you got an impossible situation hanging over you today? Does it threaten to fall on to your life? Call upon Christ to help you. Jesus will make the calculation of faith necessary to destroy it. All you have to do is to launch your faith and Jesus will take care of the rest to hit what is troubling you “right on target.”

Have a blessed day!