ICS Daily Devotions
Help My Unbelief
Luke 5:17 (NKJV) Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (emphasis added)
On that day, there were probably many needy people in Capernaum, but no one bothered to invite them to Jesus. They were probably more curious, skeptical and cynical about Jesus than believing He is the Messiah with the ability to heal. They were critical of Jesus’ ministry. It was such a wasted opportunity!
Does the faith of the people affect the flow of the Holy Spirit or the power of God to minister to the people?
Mark 6:4-6(NKJV) But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
There is a saying, “familiarity breeds contempt” so there wasn’t any expectation from the crowd in Jesus’ hometown because they knew Him as the carpenter’s son rather than the Messiah. Jesus marveled in their unbelief. It was their unbelief, the lack of hunger towards God’s mighty act in their community, their lack of faith in Jesus that led Him not to be able to do mighty works among them.
Mark 9:24 (NKJV) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Jesus was gracious in ministering to the child who was demon possessed despite the boy’s father’s unbelief. Jesus in an earlier remark told the boy’s father that “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” Mark 9:23 (NKJV). Obviously, Jesus was ministering to His own people. As His covenant people, the Jewish people had a right to receive ministry from Jesus including healing (refer to the “children’s bread” in Matthew 15:22-28). However, we have also seen some cases when Jesus ministered to the non-Jews during His time on earth because He loves the people of the entire world.
It is our choice regarding how we would respond if we have received some bad news. It is especially important for us as New Testament believers who have been given the full counsel of the Word. We are able to know and understand from the Word regarding God’s love, grace and mercy. We know that God is a healer from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Word also helps us to place our faith based on the revelation given to us from scriptures regarding what Jesus has done for us through the work of redemption. All the curses of the law and the wrath of God towards sin were appeased and paid for on the cross by Jesus Christ.
Yes, God is sovereign but at the same time He respects our decision whether to connect with Him by faith or continue to dwell in unbelief. In fact, He has left it to us to develop our faith as we choose to either listen to the preaching and teaching of the Word in the local church. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. We need to remember that we have been given the ability to choose.
Sermon Series: Friends to Look for in a Crisis
