Wednesday, 5/7/14
Some of you who are reading this blog today have a family member or dear friend whose level of faith in God seems to be almost non-existent. You often feel exasperated at their apparent lack of faith because you are convinced that things would go so much better for them if only they would have a more positive outlook. You have heard of the countless number of people whose great faith has done wonders in their lives and it breaks your heart because your family member or friend is not one of them. Because you are a follower of Christ you also know that since it is impossible for those who lack faith to please God, (See Hebrews 11:6) you feel that your doubting family member or friend will never be helped in their situation, whether the issue is medical, spiritual, financial, or emotional. What can you do in a case like that? Can God do anything for people who don’t believe? Actually, He can.
One great eternal truth that comes to mind is Romans 9:15, where God says: “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So you see, because He is a God of mercy, He can even help those who can’t or won’t help themselves. If that were not enough and you need more reassurance, let me remind you of the story found in the 2nd Chapter of Mark about the paralyzed man Jesus healed. His four friends made a hole in the roof of the house where Jesus was preaching and lowered him right where He was standing. Note carefully what verse 5 says: When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “son, your sins are forgiven you.” He healed him as well. In this case, the man’s healing and forgiveness did not come because of his faith but rather the faith of his friends.
So then, if there is a loved one or friend in your life with a very low level of faith, don’t despair, this game is not over. You just keep plugging away and do your best to strengthen their faith. Remember God’s mercy; He will give you or your friend a generous dose of it in due time. And don’t forget the paralytic man’s four friends. If some special people in your life don’t have enough faith, you have it for them, never forgetting that there are no impossible cases in God’s eyes.
Memory verse for the week: (2 Corinthians 5:7) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
