Feeble Faith

Tom Barnard

 

“He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands

on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled at their unbelief.”

(Mark 6:5, 6)

 

“God constantly invites us to trust Him and experience ever-expanding

dimensions of His faithfulness and blessing.”

(David Jeremiah, in Life Wide Open, Integrity Pub., 2003, p. 92)

 

The “He” in Mark’s account was Jesus. The town was Nazareth, his home town. If it had been Damascus or Alexandria, unbelief there would not have caused him to “marvel.” But this was Nazareth, where Jesus had grown up to be the town carpenter. People took broken toys and furniture to Jesus to be repaired. They had faith that he could repair things, but they did not believe he could heal the mind, body, and spirit. Weeks earlier he had been baptized by John at the Jordan River, where the Voice from heaven was heard to say, “You are my beloved son—in you I am well pleased.” Apparently no word about the affirmation had reached Nazareth. Their feeble faith led to major miracles not being done. Big mistake.

 

So the Son of God visits the town in which he had lived for thirty years, only to hear some of his neighbors say things like, “He’s nobody special; we saw him grow up here.” Jesus came home to perform miracles; but the town seemed to say to him, “When are you returning to your wood shop? We’ve got things to be repaired.” They saw him as a carpenter; he saw himself as being the answer to their deepest needs. He won; they lost. Their faith was too feeble to see his supernatural powers at work.

 

Pastor Jeremiah reminds us that Jesus is ready to do miraculous things in our lives. I love the expression, “ever-expanding dimensions of His faithfulness and blessing.” All he asks is that we trust him, and ask.  I believe we are at the threshold of experiencing God’s intervention in our lives, as well as in the life of our cities, our states, and even our nation. Are we going to be feeble in our faith, or forceful? I believe Jesus wants us to be forceful. He said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9, 10). These are not my words. Jesus of Nazareth said them.

 

Lord, I confess that I have often been short-sighted in my faith. Some of my friends have serious needs, but I have not taken those needs to you in a forceful and faithful way. Forgive me for failing to take you at your word.  And now, I pray, please take my feeble faith and apply your magnificent grace to it, and then set in motion the desired end of my faith. In the miracle-working name of Jesus I pray. Amen.