July 16 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Only believe" (Mark 5:36).

Devotional

The words of Jesus, the very words that he spoke when on earth, are precious and significant. Did those lips—lips into which grace without measure was poured—ever breathe a sentence more touching, more simple, or more significant than this, "Only believe"?

Originally addressed to an afflicted parent who sought his compassion and help on behalf of a little daughter lying at the point of death, they seem to be especially appropriate to every case of anxiety, of trial, and of need. Alas! how many such will scan this page—how many a sigh will breathe over it, how many a tear will moisten it, how many a mournful glance will light upon it! Let it be so. There comes back a voice of sympathy responsive to each sad heart—not man, but Jesus speaks, "Only believe."

In other words, "only trust." What is faith, but trust? What is believing in Jesus, but trusting Jesus? And what a natural, beautiful, soothing definition of the word faith is this! Many books written to explain the nature and operation of faith leave us as perplexed as ever. But who can fail to comprehend the meaning of the good old Saxon word "trust"? All can understand what this means. When, therefore, Jesus says—as he does to every individual who reads these words—"only believe," he literally means, "only trust me."

Thus he spoke to the anxious father who besought him to come and heal his child: "Only believe. Only trust my power. Only trust my compassion. Only trust my Word. Do not be afraid, only trust me." And thus he speaks to you, believer. Oh, for a heart to respond, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears!"

Trust implies mystery, ignorance, danger, and helplessness on our part. How wrapped in inscrutability, how shadowy and unreal, is all the future! As we attempt to penetrate the darkness, what strange forebodings steal over our spirits. Right at this juncture Jesus approaches, and with address most winning and in accents most gentle, speaks these words, "Only believe–only trust me! Trust me, who knows the end from the beginning. Trust me, who has all resources at my command. Trust me, whose love never changes, whose wisdom never misleads, whose Word never fails, whose eye never slumbers nor sleeps. Only trust me!"

Enough, my blessed Lord, my soul replies. I will sit myself down as a loving child, a lowly disciple at your feet, and, uncertain and bleak as my future path may be, will learn from you how and where I may trust you all my journey through.

I am trusting thee, Lord Jesus,
trusting only thee:
trusting thee for full salvation,
great and free.

(Frances R. Havergal, 1874)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2025.