The Gospels tell the story of a desperate dad who brought his demonized son to Jesus for deliverance. While Jesus was up on the mountain, the man came looking for him. Failing to find him, he prevailed upon the remaining disciples for help. Their efforts came to nothing, and as Jesus came down the mountain, the man met him with his desperate plea.
Jesus is the healer and the boy is the one eventually healed, but the father is really the central character in the story. The man asked Jesus to help “if he could.” Jesus rebuked the man for his tentativeness and told him that “all things are possible for one who believes.” The desperate man cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Jesus rebuked the spirit and the boy was set free.
This is one of my favourite verses in the Bible, because it gives me such hope! The man was full of doubts in his mind, yet Jesus saw four things in him which testified to the genuineness of his faith. And I hope he can see the same in me.
First, he had motivation. He was desperate for God. The Oxford dictionary defines desperate as “reckless from despair, violent, lawless, staking all on a small chance.” Our faith is weak because complacency rules our agenda. We don’t have because we don’t ask (James 4:2).
Second, he came in worship. According to the parallel account of this story in Matthew 17, the first thing the man did upon seeing Jesus was to kneel before him. Instinctively, he gave Jesus a place of authority in his life that led him to bow before him. Worship is not just the singing of choruses, but the laying down of our lives before God: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).
Third, he came in honesty. He admitted his own doubts and fears. Honesty is a sign of genuine relationship. The father could be honest with Jesus because he knew his honesty would not lead to Jesus’ rejection. Jesus looked to bless his kernel of faith rather than judge his mountain of doubt.
Finally, he came in trust. His trust in Jesus overcame his disappointment with people. He did not walk away from Jesus because the disciples failed him. How often do people walk away from the Lord because a Christian or church has apparently failed them? This man’s faith was strong enough to withstand disillusionment with people and to keep his eyes on Jesus, not on Jesus’ representatives.
True faith shows itself in our character, our attitudes and the way we live. The father did have some real belief in his mind — otherwise, he would not have come to Jesus at all — but the belief in his mind was only a product of a deeper trust in his heart.
There’s hope for all of us today. He is still looking for the desperation in your heart, not the doubts in your mind.
Do some believing in your unbelief and see what the Lord does for you.
CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH DAVID & ELAINE CAMPBELL IN HELPING TO SUSTAIN THEIR ACTIVE MINISTRY.
AWAKENING MINISTRIES // FOUNDATION of FAITH Project
Foundation of Faith Project is strengthening generations in faith and bringing beautiful changes to the communities around them. Through teaching, mentoring and coaching, many are finding out who they are and who they are destined to be. They are bringing more to their world. David Campbell is the key leader in this initiative and you can support him financially directly through Awakening Ministries.
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