MY NEW JOB: ADMITTING MY UNBELIEF (Thursday)
- Jan 26, 2023
- 3 min read
Mark 9:24
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
This father was desperate. His son had been possessed by a mute spirit for most of his life. The spirit caused the boy to have seizures in which the boy foamed at the mouth, gnashed his teeth, and became rigid. The man was in agony over the state of his son, so he sought the assistance of Jesus’ disciples. The disciples wanted to help and desired to cast out the demon. They did everything they knew to do. They had done this before, and they could not figure out why the same words and actions would not work for them this time. The man was in disbelief.
Jesus came upon the scene. It didn’t take Him long to sort out the situation. The man explained to Jesus that he had brought his son to His disciples, and that he believed the disciples possessed the same power as their Master. Jesus answered him, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me” (v. 19). They brought the boy to Him, and the spirit again performed for Jesus, convulsing the boy on the ground in a seizure.
The father also made a plea to Jesus, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (v. 22). In response, Jesus exclaimed that the man should not doubt if He could do anything, but He would help if the man would just believe. Jesus exclaimed, “All things are possible to him who believes” (v. 23). The father of the child, bursting in tears of hope, said, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (v. 24). Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, commanding him out of the boy. The disciples asked why they could not cast out the spirit. Jesus replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer” (v. 29). The man had a new lease on life: his son had been restored to him. He was overjoyed that his son was healed. He only looked to the future joy with his son; he put the past hurts behind him.
THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: Am I struggling with doubt about the power of Jesus? Do I realize that God has control over my situation? I am like the father in this story in many ways:
· I may doubt the power Jesus has because He doesn’t act in my timing. The man struggled for years with many failed solutions, and this had severely affected his faith.
· I only see my solution to the problem. The man believed the disciples could cast out the demon, but God had other plans—He wanted to show the power of His Son.
· I don’t see the solution until Jesus explains the real problem. The real problem wasn’t with the boy, as everyone had thought, but with the father’s faith. The solution resulted in the father’s increased faith.
Lord, please give me patience as I wait for Your timing. I know You are in control of all things, and I trust You for the answers to my problems. Amen.
May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman
Selection taken from I Have a New Job by Chaplain Wayne Ruckman, available on Amazon
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