Meditations

”The father answered Jesus, ‘From childhood it has often cast my boy into fire and water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ ” (Mark 9:21-22) “There came a man full of leprosy, and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged, ‘Lord, if it be Your will, I know You can make me clean.’ ” (Luke 5:12) “Then Job answered the Lord, ‘I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.’ ” (Job 42:1-2)

Here we see three different levels of faith. First, we have the desperate father who is wrestling with his doubts, and trying to learn who this Jesus really is, eventually crying out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” It’s where we all once were. Then an equally desperate leper comes to Him, but this man is sure and certain. He is a picture of the definition of faith, breaking through all the obstacles that the world can throw his way to get to the grace that he knows can only come from his Lord – the only question in his mind is whether the Lord is ready to heal him in His perfect timing. And finally, we have the man who no longer needs the preposition “if” when he approaches his heavenly Father – Job hasn’t received any of the answers he thought were important, but he knows exactly Who has them, and that’s a gracious plenty for him.

Do you remember that when Jesus speaks to us of loving Him, it is not a command?  He always gives us a choice. “IF you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV) Same option He gave Peter in their walk by the shore, “Do you love Me?… then feed My sheep!” (John 21:16) And truth be known, even this command to Peter is unnecessary. We can’t help it. Because, if we love Him, it’s the very next thing we want to do – to serve and do all we can think of to be a blessing to Him. “Our Lord never insists on our obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He won’t force us to do it. We will demonstrate our faith and trust and love in Him by our oneness of spirit with Him. When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces fruit. His redeeming blood, the Spirit of His living water, will flow through us to the lives of others.” (Oswald Chambers) Command me to obey? He may as well command me to breathe… I can’t help it! (Heb 11:1 and Phil 1:18-21)

David