I Believe–Sort of

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. (Mark 9:14 KJV)

When Jesus walked up to the disciples He found them surrounded by a large crowd and a group of scribes were questioning them. When they saw Him, I think they saw a solution to their problem. They had been unable to heal a young man who was described as having a deaf and dumb spirit. No, don’t laugh – we may know better today how to describe such an affliction, but they used the words and knowledge they had at the time. No matter what the cause, the young man’s difficulties were horrendous, and his father loved him very much.

He had lived with this for years:

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:21-23 KJV)

The father’s response is one we should recognize from our own lives:

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. (Mark 9:24 KJV)

The father recognized the limits of his belief, and recognized that in Jesus there was help. We seldom do. I’m reminded of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I know – that’s a long stretch. But those three believed God could deliver them, but were not concerned as to whether He would:

… who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Daniel 3:15b-18 KJV)

Their faith was sufficient to stand up for their God, knowing Him capable of delivering them. Whether He would or not, they would not worship another. Now, that’s belief! Few people I’ve met have it. I pray I would, should the time come as it has for many others.

What can we do when we recognize there are limits on our faith? The Bible’s answer is:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

A good place to begin is with the short book of 1 John, where he is very open about why the book was written:

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:3-4 KJV)