And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 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.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
There is a tension evident in the boy's father that many of us can relate to. This man has watched unspeakable horrors happening to his son and he feared for his precious boy's life. I can resonate with those fears. This summer I watched, sometimes fearful, as my wife struggled for her life for a week laying in a hospital bed hooked up to a ventilator. The joy in my heart was overwhelming that Sunday that they removed the tube from her.
Many run with the phrase "all things are possible" and postulate bad theology because they do not understand the hyperbolic nature of such a statement. Jesus is not saying that we will get anything we want if we pray. He is speaking in a general sense and the focus is not what we believe for but who we believe in. Frankly, the man's faith would be for naught if it was not placed in God himself. We believe in God for who he is and not for what he gives.
I struggle Lord. Help me to believe the best. Help me to trust you.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to get comments and usually respond. So come back to see my reply.
You can click here to see my comment policy.