Daily Devotional For Tuesday, May 14, 2024

I don’t know about you but there are times I struggle to live by faith. When I read the stories in the Bible of Red Seas parting, the blind given sight, the dead raised and even metaphorically, mountains being moved, I would love to see something similar today because I stepped out in faith. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said this, “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” (NLT). Yet, if we look at this statement by Jesus realistically, most Christians would say that has not been their experience. For most Christians, we struggle to move simple things, let alone mountains.

If biblical faith is trusting God, taking God at His Word, believing “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6), then faith is less about knowledge and more about do we trust God. Years ago I read “faith is not a noun; it is a verb.” In other words, faith is not an object, but an action. I read that Christian author Dallas Willard said this:

“Faith is commitment to action…based upon knowledge of God and God’s ways. “Christian faith cares about the evidence…the facts matter. You can’t have assurance for something you don’t know you’re going to get. You can only hope for it. This is why the resurrection of Jesus is so important. It gives assurance to the hope. Because of a Christian view of faith, Paul is able to say in 1 Corinthians 15 that when it comes to the resurrection, if we have only hope, but no assurance – if Jesus didn’t indeed rise from the dead in time / space history – then we are of most men to be pitied. This confidence Paul is talking about is not a confidence in a mere ‘faith’ resurrection, a mythical resurrection, a story-telling resurrection. Instead, it’s a belief in a real resurrection. If the real resurrection didn’t happen, then we’re in trouble. The Bible knows nothing of a bold leap-in-the-dark faith, a hope-against-hope faith, a faith with no evidence. Rather, if the evidence doesn’t correspond to the hope, then the faith is in vain, as even Paul has said.” (Source: https://aremonstrantsramblings.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/christians-defining-faith/).

So, let’s break this down over the next few days. I have 3 major points and for today, I’ll give you just the first one. I think there are reasons we struggle with faith. (1) The first reason I think we struggle with faith is that for some there is a lack of real belief. If faith is believing what God says is true, then before that can become real to the believer, the believer must believe God to be true. Sometimes we can be guilty as children or teens or young adults or even older adults simply repeating what others say is true, but down deep inside, we do not really believe it for ourself. 

In order to experience genuine faith, tell God — be honest with God about your doubts. This means you let the Holy Spirit lay bare in the open your disbelief. This strangely is a step of faith. We see an example of this in Scripture. In Mark 9, a father with a son who was demon possessed brought his son to Jesus to heal him. Here is the main content of this story in Mark 9:20-29:

“So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. (21) “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. (22) The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” (23) “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (24) The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (25) When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, He rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” (26) Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” (27) But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. (28) Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” (29)  Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer and fasting” (NLT).

Lord Kenneth Clark is one of Great Britain's most prominent art historians and authors, and the producer of the BBC television series, Civilization. In an autobiographical account, Clark writes that when he was living in a villa in France he had a curious episode of belief:

“I had a religious experience. It took place in the church of San Lorenzo, but did not seem to be connected with the harmonious beauty of the architecture. I can only say that for a few minutes, my whole being was radiated by a kind of heavenly joy, far more intense than anything I had ever experienced before. This state of mind lasted for several minutes … but wonderful as it was, [it] posed an awkward problem in terms of action. My life was far from blameless. I would have to reform. My family would think I was going mad, and perhaps after all, it was a delusion, for I was in every way unworthy of such a flood of grace. Gradually the effect wore off and I made no effort to retain it. I think I was right. I was too deeply embedded in the world to change course. But I had "felt the finger of God" quite sure and, although the memory of this experience has faded, it still helps me to understand the joys of the saints” (Source: Tim Keller, Making Sense of God, pp. 18-19).

As you can see, saying I believe or had an episode of belief is not enough by itself. Jesus warned us about this in Matthew 7:21-23:

“Not all who sound religious are really godly people. They may refer to Me as ‘Lord,’ but still won’t get to heaven. For the decisive question is whether they obey My Father in heaven. (22) At the Judgment many will tell Me, ‘Lord, Lord, we told others about You and used Your name to cast out demons and to do many other great miracles.’ (23) But I will reply, ‘You have never been Mine. Go away, for your deeds are evil’” (TLB).

Jesus says, “Belief is not enough.” James talks about this also in James 2:19, “Are there still some among you who hold that “only believing” is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too—so strongly that they tremble in terror!” (TLB).

Demons believe and they are not going to heave, but to hell. Belief is not enough. Wednesday and Thursday we will look a the next two points on this issue of faith and belief.

Questions To Consider

1. If God were to grade you on a scale of 0-100 for your level of belief, based on the devotional above, what grade do you think He would give you and why?
2. What is the toughest part in belief and faith for you personally?
3. Have you ever prayed, “Lord, help my unbelief”? Why or why not? Why is this an act of faith itself?

Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 21:22, Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (ESV).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I can say the right words with my mouth but there are times my heart feels differently. I know I say I believe, but I do have doubts at times. Please, help my unbelief. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! — Pastor Kelly