Skip to main content

Believing

              Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:21-24)

 

This is the passage that comes to mind this morning as I mentally stumble around trying to get my mind and body in gear this morning. I have sometimes joked that my grumbling is my engine trying to catch. This morning, it wasn’t so much grumbling as bumbling. I started out thinking some good thoughts:

“You and You alone are God.”

“You and You alone are Lord.”

                “You and You alone are Father…” and that’s where things shifted a little, because as my Father, it is His responsibility to care for me. And He does care for me. I believe that…

          But I don’t believe it. I believe that what He allows in my life is for my good and/or for the good of others. I believe that He loves me and guides me. But I don’t believe it. And I don’t think the problem is the hypocrisy of saying that I believe when I really don’t. I think the problem is tougher than that. I both believe and don’t believe at the same time. Maybe it’s a head/heart thing, or a soul/flesh thing, but it’s almost an echo of Romans 7. I cry with the father from the story above “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” And I mourn because I know that in the next part of the story, Jesus chides the man and His disciples for their lack of faith.

          The man cried for help, and that’s what we must do, but at the same time, we must draw our lines in the sand. We must make the decision: believe, or not believe? We must be honest about our weakness and exercise our strength. These times are not just proof that our faith is not strong, they are also signposts God gives us to tell us to exercise what faith we have.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more