Think a Minute:
As we continue our Advent journey this month, I want to share this week about belief. There are two kinds of belief. The first is belief to become a Christian, and then there is belief to live by. The great hurdle is the first one. Passing over the first hurdle lands you into an eternal kingdom. But then there are hundreds and thousands of daily living hurdles – marriage conflicts, health problems, career decisions, etc.
The issue for the Christian is this: Did you believe the first time? If you did, then your job is not to make the believe-or-not-believe decision a thousand more times. Your task is to learn the right response based on the fact of your first belief. If you believed, then you became co-heir with Christ to the kingdom of God. Once you first believe, you are eternally connected to the goodness of God. He has good plans for you, plans which go on for ever and ever.
But in the living out of daily life, clouds of doubt are suspended all around our faith. Jesus said to the father of the demon-possessed boy, “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23). But as the father lived his daily life: physical perceptions were suspended all around the divine reality. That is why the father of the boy exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (v.24).
What son is it that you are desperate to have the Lord heal? What sorrow languishes in your soul? Can Jesus heal you? Jesus says, yes, “Everything is possible for him (or her) who believes.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I live from day to day, there are times I doubt Your power to heal my life. Sometimes I wonder if You are really there. I pray You will remove doubt from my life. Restore the solid belief in my life of the divine reality. Lord, I do believe; help me with my unbelief!
Amen and Amen!
– Pastor Rob Pesola