I'm reading a chapter a day of Mark's gospel at the moment. I've gotten to chapter eight so far and even this early, it's quite fast paced. Jesus is constantly on the move, healing the sick, confronting demons, feeding large crowds, giving time to outsiders and tirelessly responding to requests for help and guidance.... that's not what I'm being challenged by though.
The challenge for me comes in Mark 6: 52 where it says, that "Their hearts (meaning the disciples) were too hard to take it in".
I do believe that Jesus is the Son of God and I do have a good grasp, (thanks to great teaching and training), of the real purpose for Jesus coming to earth, but if I'm really honest there are times when I struggle to believe the Messiah has chosen me to be his follower and carry on his ministry – there are times when I think it's too good to be true and so I doubt rather than believe.
Even after the many things I've seen Jesus do in taking broken living and setting them right. In hearing my prayers and going ahead of me in life I still, (on many occasions), struggle to take the step of faith and believe that these things can happen again and in greater measure.
I realise that there are times when I don't transfer the truth I already know about Jesus to my own life and indeed to the life of the Almond Vineyard and yet that's exactly what I need to do. It has nothing to do with positive thinking and everything to do with fixing my eyes on Jesus, pressing into him so that we travel the same road and honestly saying, "Lord Jesus I believe, help my unbelief".
David Hart
Leader
2 comments:
You wouldn't know that's what you thought / felt David, but thanks for being so honest.
I'm finding more and more that I tend to fall into the same patterns of sin / disobedience. In the past would plead and repent over and over again, but am now finding a greater reward thanking God for His mercy and forgiveness, which is giving me greater strength to overcome the fear that I'm prone to falling at the same hurdles all over and over. (That's not an excuse to keep sinning, as the Apostle Paul said we shouldn't! It's just an honest assessment of where I am.)
This, too, comes from pressing into Him so that we travel the same road and I honestly say, "Lord Jesus I believe, help my unbelief".
And you're doing a really great job of leading us all - no easy task, but your reward awaits you in heaven my friend.
As a follow on to my original blog I was again challenged to head down adventure road by Jesus's words in Mark 11:24 "All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. Listen to me! You can pray for anything and if you believe you will have it"
It's intoxicating to think that I can have anything, but I know, (to use a railway analogy), that kind of thinking will only run me up a siding every time. The real track to travel is the one that puts God's interests before mine
Post a Comment