Help My Unbelief!

".... but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24

 

Can you imagine telling Jesus, "if you can." There's is no if to it. He can do all things! He is true God. We know this; yet, we don't know it. Our faith is lacking.

 

Because we are not able to do something in this world, our faith or lack of faith does not allow us to believe that Jesus can do it. It may well be that our faith is lacking because our view of him is only of a man who walked this earth 2000 years ago.

 

Jesus, as true God, can do all things. But, that does not mean he will do all things. He serves according to the will of our Father in heaven; just as we should. Pray then for all things to come about according to God's will. Trust that God has had pity on us, has helped us and will help us according to His good will.

 

Let us not pray, "If you can." Let pray that God would help us to believe and trust Him even in our unbelief and that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 9:14-29 If You Can

The disciples could not drive the evil spirit from the boy; so the father asks Jesus to try.

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.” (Mark 9:21-23 NIV)

How often do we plead with God to help us or our children with something akin to; "if you can do anything;" with unbelief? When we pray; we are speaking with Almighty God; creator of all that is. When we pray; we are speaking with the author of life. How absurd it seems to say to Him "if you can." Yet, in our unbelief, we approach Him, all of the time, thinking that our prayers are like some sort of magical incantation. Our words do not produce results that we want. We merely bring our petitions to the LORD. He hears our prayers of faith and answers according to His will. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (vs 23)

LORD, we do believe, help us overcome our unbelief! (vs 24)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 14 - Common As Eating Bread

Sin was common place in David's time.  It is in our time, as well.  David compares it to being as common as eating bread.  That is something most of the world does daily.  We do it without even thinking; just as we sin against God; just as we do harm to one another, without even thinking.  We all turn our backs against God, rebelling in our unbelief.

How sad it is, that we who are called the children of God, do not do all that we can do to glorify His Holy Name, that all might hear and believe.  But, God has a plan - a plan to save us from ourselves - from sin - from death - from the devil.  Out of Zion, he raised up our Saviour, a light to the world, that all might see and hear and believe. 

Believe!  What David is talking about in this Psalm is a pretty specific sin that leads to the sin of harming others.  That sin is unbelief. It is unbelief, turning our backs on God, that allows grievous mischief in this world, that in turn leads others away from faith in God.  It is by faith, that we are saved.  Thanks be to God, for His mercy endures forever!

God's Peace - Pr. J