40 Days of Preparation Day 8

Today, Saturday March 3, 2012, is the eighth day of preparing our hearts, souls and minds for the most high of all Christian holy days, Easter Sunday. Today I need to “put off” unbelief and “put on” faith.  Unbelief is very dangerous because it limits what God will do in your life.  When Jesus walked this planet in the flesh whenever He came to a town where they did not believe in Him He departed and did not return.  I don’t know about you but I don’t want Jesus leaving me, therefore, I must “put off” unbelief and “put on” faith.

When Jesus went to His hometown to preach the gospel and heal the sick the townspeople who had known Him from His childhood could not accept that He could have such wisdom are performed such mighty works.  As a result of their continued questioning and lack of confidence in his ability Jesus left His hometown and they missed out on seeing many miracles and hearing the wisdom of God.

⁵³ And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, ⁵⁴ and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? ⁵⁵ Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” ⁵⁸ And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:53–58 (ESV)

If we are not in encountering the power of God in our lives as we think a Christian should then we need to very carefully and prayerfully examine our own beliefs to make certain that ours is a true and abiding faith.  I think that each of us too often are like the father in the following passage of Scripture.

²¹ And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. ²² And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” ²³ And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” ²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” ²⁵ And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” Mark 9:21–25 (ESV)

Please don’t miss the unbelief in this father’s voice as he questions Jesus’ ability and willingness to heal his son.  Lest we give the father too bad a rap note that in the preceding verses Jesus’ disciples were unable to heal his son.

The response of Jesus to this father’s expressed unbelief and this father’s subsequent response to Jesus are both instructive for us.

Jesus’ response implies a degree of incredulousness.  It’s as though Jesus can’t believe what He has just heard this father say.  “If I can!” In our parlance we would say something like “How dare you question my ability!” That this boy’s father understood that Jesus was perturbed by his previous statement is clear in his response to Jesus.  “I do believe, help my unbelief.” This simple statement of a father desperate to see his son healed should become a prayer that each of us prays regularly especially when we sense that doubt is beginning to creep into our thinking about God and His willingness and ability to help us in our time of need.

Faith is the remedy for unbelief! Hebrews 11 is the great faith chapter of the Bible.

¹ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. . . . ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:1–3; 6 (ESV)

Jesus taught us that faith is best understood as a child.

¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Mark 10:15 (ESV)

I understand these two passages to mean that I must trust God and Christ to do what they said they would do as a naïve little child who trusts their parent completely. Without such childlike faith it is impossible for me to please or even to draw near to God.  Therefore, since living in God’s presence is my greatest desire as a Christian I must learn to “put off” unbelief and “put on” faith.

Today pray with me “I believe, help my unbelief!”