Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Wednesday Thought -- January 16, 2013


Good Morning Friends,

“So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion.  He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.  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 him who believes.’  Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:20-24)

I admire the honesty of this boy’s father.  He wanted to believe that Jesus could heal his son, but it was just too incredible.  A part of him believed and a part of him didn’t.  He was honest about his wavering faith and asked for Jesus’ help with it:  “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”

Most of us have wavering faith, at least some of the time.  And many of us try to hide it.  We know it’s not right, we should believe without any doubt.  We know it’s not what we want.  We want to be sold out to Jesus, absolutely convinced of His ability and willingness to help.  Our pride gets in the way of our being honest about it.  Or perhaps we hope if we don’t acknowledge our doubt it will go away.  Or perhaps we’re afraid our doubt will keep Jesus from being able to work in our lives.  So, we keep it to ourselves.

But doubt kept to ourselves is still doubt and God already knows all about it.  Doubt kept to ourselves can never be addressed.  When the boy’s father was honest enough to admit his doubt, Jesus helped him believe -- He healed his son!

Playacting with God, trying to hide or cover up what we’re feeling and thinking just doesn’t work with Him.  He knows what’s going on in the deepest part of our hearts and minds.  Honesty before God is always the best policy.  It’s only in our honesty that God can deal with the trouble within us.

His, by Grace,

Steve

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