© 2014 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

The Bible describes a man who knew he lacked faith. His son had been demon possessed ever since childhood. This father cried out to Jesus with the following words: “…if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us” (Mark 9:22). Notice the man’s doubt. He wasn’t really sure the Lord could help him. Have you ever wanted to trust God but just couldn’t? Lack of faith in Christ is a common problem plaguing all of fallen mankind. Faith in Christ cannot come from a heart untouched by God Himself (Psalm 110:3, John 6:65, Romans 8:8). Jesus, knowing this, zeroed in on the man’s lack of faith. He said to him, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). Imagine the heart rending agony of the father who knew, and had even expressed, his own difficulty in believing the Savior. He knew that, as much as he wanted to believe, he simply did not have the power. What was he to do?

Apparently the beginnings of faith, which God had already implanted in him, caused him to beg for faith from the only source of faith. He said to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

Has the Lord touched your heart with horror over your own sinfulness? Has he given you understanding that there is nothing you can do to deliver yourself from eternal damnation? Has he showed you that even the faith you need cannot come from within your own dead heart? Without this realization, which comes only from the Lord Himself, you will never even want salvation. If, however, you are grieving under the weight of your condition and inability to trust Christ, the Bible has an important message for you. It says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Read and listen to God’s written word! Pray to God’s living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to die as the sin bearer (John 1:1-17). Ask Him for complete faith to trust Him, alone, for salvation. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Are you heavy laden? Ask Jesus, the Lord, for faith to receive Him as your Savior!

 

 

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