Jump Start # 907

Mark 9:23-25 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”

We continue our look at profiles in courage, a look at spiritual courage. Our third illustration of courage is found in the father of a demon possessed boy. This boy had been possessed by this demon for some time. The demon would cause the boy to foam at the mouth and throw himself into fire and water. This child had to be constantly watched. What a fearful experience for the parents. The father had taken the boy to the disciples for help, but they were unable to remove the demon. He now comes to Jesus. The Lord uses the occasion to rebuke faithlessness. The father of the boy asked Jesus if He could do anything. Jesus picked up on the word “If.” “If” carries the idea of doubt. “Would you,” is asking for permission, “If you,” is questioning ability. In this conversation, the boy’s father admits, “Help my unbelief.” That is a statement of courage.

Courage is not just facing enemies, speaking out in difficult times or doing the hard things. Sometimes the greatest courage is found in being honest with ourselves and toward God. Courage to admit that we cannot do it alone. Courage that cries out for help. Courage that recognizes self as a sinner.

This inner courage is one of the hardest to face and muster up. This inner honesty is necessary to overcome habitual sins, ignorance and uncertainty. Admitting we need help is hard, especially for men. We are proud that we can figure things out, know our way, and be self reliant. Those qualities get us in trouble and can be a cover for stubbornness. We all need Jesus. We all need each other. There are some things that we can’t figure out nor fix on our own. The greatest of those is our sinful history and past.

The father of the demon possessed boy said before a crowd, and more so, before Jesus, “Lord, help my unbelief.” He knew. He was honest. He admitted. I expect you haven’t heard that expressed in church services in a long while. Few would admit that they needed help with their unbelief. Few would be so honest to acknowledge that they even had moments of unbelief. This man did. Those who have had serious addictions, recognize that the keystone to programs like AA is to admit publically your problem. Honesty reminds us that we all have a terrible past. People have been hurt. Promises were broken. Lies were told. Sinful behavior was pursued. Forgiveness in Christ has given us a clean start, a new start. However, some habits, especially the bad ones, are hard to break. Our failure to recognize this and more so, to ask for help will lead many of us right back into the trouble we left. Special studies dealing with attitudes, thoughts, lust, greed, growth are often necessary to help us. Wise shepherds in the church will see this. They will understand that one size fits all classes often do not help with specific needs and problems. Personal studies, one on one classes that can help strengthen a person in a specific area is the key. This is the real work of shepherding. Leave the checkbook to others. Don’t consume yourself with the color of the stripes in the parking lot. Look after those who have found the courage to see themselves as they are and to ask for help.

It takes a real courage to understand that a person needs help. It takes courage to ask another for help. It takes courage to fight Satan. Those inner battles are hard. It is easy to think that we alone have these struggles and battles. It is easy to think that everyone else is getting it, but we are constantly failing. That’s not the way it is, but it seems that way from where we are.

Without this inner courage, we play the game and fool ourselves that everything is fine, when it is not. We never conquer the sins that we struggle with. The battle is lost and we lack confidence and assurance that we ought to have. Why? Mostly, because of pride. We will not be courageous enough to admit that we need Jesus. We will not be courageous enough to admit that we need help with our faith. So we struggle. We flounder. Like a yo-yo, we are up and down spiritually. Our spiritual walk lacks joy. We seem stuck in the same place, and the truth is, we are. Courage is what we need. Honesty is what we need. God already knows. It’s not going to surprise Him for us to admit, “Lord, help my unbelief.” Satan already knows. This is why he keeps temptation coming at us, one after the other. It’s time for us to realize these things and then do something about it.

This is not the way we have to live. Help, through God is there. It won’t knock on your door. You must go after it. Remember the “seek and ye shall find” principles? That doesn’t stop once we’ve found Jesus. That defines our spiritual journey. Seeking help. Seeking answers. Seeking God’s way.

Inner courage is hard. Do you really know yourself? Do you see yourself as God does? There are two extremes we must be careful with. One, is to think of ourselves more highly than we should. That is to think that God, His church cannot survive without us. The other, the opposite, is to think so poorly of self, that we never feel useful to God. Jesus thinks you are worth saving. Courage. Courage to ask for help. Courage to seek God. Courage.

Lord, help my unbelief. A father long ago said that to Jesus. Dads today, as well as moms, need to admit that today. That’s the first step in becoming what God wants.

Help us, Lord.

Roger