One Hundred Percent

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

How strong is our faith?  How often do we exercise faith in the course of days?  Here is a man imploring Jesus for more than just his child’s restoration.  This man wants to believe with all of his being.  Is God able to shore up or add to a lack of belief or faith?  It would seem so from this passage.  After all, the child was delivered of demonic possession immediately after this exchange between this father and Jesus.

Help thou mine unbelief!  What a statement.  What a prayer!  Isn’t God just too much?  Not only does God provide all our need, but delivers to us faith and belief besides.  I’m afraid that many men and women rely too much on their own faith.  Such a paltry thing is our faith.  If we were able to measure faith on a scale it would barely move for the amount of faith we needed for salvation.  But, add to that the faith which God gave us and the scale would tip beyond measure.  Things would happen far more frequently if we’d learn to trust God to add to our faith.  Too many of us fall short of complete faith by relying on ourselves alone.  We run around the world trying to reach one lost soul after another with an empty tank of faith.  We’re left stranded and empty-handed many times as a result.  The tank is empty because we rely on ourselves.  If we want one-hundred percent capacity then we need to go to God and ask for a boost.  He’ll be sure to fill up our tank to overflowing.  It only takes a little faith and God will provide the great faith. 

There shouldn’t be a day go by without us pleading in prayer as this man did.  Jesus, help thou mine unbelief.  God, help thou mine unbelief.  I believe we learn this when we are first born-again and soon quickly forget.  How do great men and women of God do as they do?  They get help with their unbelief!  The closer we walk with God the easier it is to get full-up on faith.  Give it a test.  Pray this prayer each morning with every burden we lay at the foot of the Throne.  Just watch God work! 

But, we already believe!  We certainly do.  We understand that Jesus has our soul in His care.  This father believed and yet he asked for help in his unbelief.  He desperately wanted his son restored.  He added an appeal for belief in Jesus’ ability to help his son.  How many instances in our life has God done marvelous and miraculous things?  Has it increased our belief or have we chalked it up to coincidence?  We pray earnestly for God’s help and intervention.  We believe God can help.  Yet, when God steps in and smoothes over the rough patches we look back and give coincidence the glory and not God.  Lord, help our unbelief.

God sent a global flood, parted the Red Sea, and brought down the walls of Jericho.  Do we really believe God did these things?  Are we sure God didn’t send some great storm and cause some flooding, send the Exodus through a swamp, or simply cause a breach or two in the walls of Jericho.  Is the Bible just a good read?  Are these just good stories to scare and wow children?  Have we gotten past the “book” side of the Bible?  Many see the Bible as they see a good novel.  Is there any truth in it?  Can we stake our lives on what it says?  Can we fully believe the Word of God?  Why then do some Christians believe in evolution?  God, help our unbelief. 

Many have staked their lives.  Every true born-again believer has staked their soul on the Word.  If we can believe in salvation why shouldn’t we believe it all and just as strongly?  Which part should we not believe?  Why not go one-hundred percent all out?

God went one-hundred percent for us.  And, if we can’t quite get one-hundred percent on our own, God will send the lack.

Has God helped your unbelief?

Have you prayed for help?