If You Can
I was reading today in Mark chapter 9 about the crowd that had gathered around the demon possessed boy and how the disciples could not cast out the demon that was in him and then onto the scene walks Jesus and everything changes.
After being asked to cast out the demon Jesus says to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
The boy comes over and just the fact that he was in the presence of Jesus the boy begins to foam at the mouth, shakes and falls to the ground. The dad tells Jesus that this demon keeps throwing his son in the fire and water trying to kill him. The father looks at Jesus and says “Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
I read that and thought that is me. When I go through a trial I condescendingly look at Jesus and say, help me if you can. Ever do that? What kind of faith is that? Jesus looks at the dad and says “What do you mean, if I can?” [I'm freaking Jesus, okay so I added that last part for dramatic emphasis, not that it was needed.] “If I can?” I’m Jesus the creator of the universe who cares about you as an individual, of course I can.
The father says something interesting again, like he hasn’t already showed his cards of disbelief, he admits to Jesus right there on the spot, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” THAT’S US! Everyday we need to say to God, I do believe but help me overcome my unbelief.
- My unbelief that you love me.
- My unbelief that you forgive me.
- My unbelief that you want all of me.
- My unbelief that my mess can become your mission.
- My unbelief that I am worthy of your grace.
- My unbelief that my junk is important to you.
- My unbelief that you can do the impossible.
- My unbelief that you are who you say you are.
How much longer will we sit with unbelief in our hearts and yet publicly state God can do anything? Our faith is a gift from God, Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that. Faith is a constant process of daily turning to Jesus and handing Him our unbelief. He-wants-our-everything, even our unbelief. What are you handing him today?
Everything
Tim Hughes has a song called Everything that has been rocking me since I heard it. You can listen to his full album on LaLa by clicking on his name.
There is a verse in Luke 14:33 that says, “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.” The Message
God wants our everything. Seems simple to say, after all He gave His everything to us. It’s one thing to say it, completely different to try and live it. What is my everything? The good, the bad, the ugly and the junk? Does He really want everything?
- He wants my…Lust
- He wants my…Racism
- He wants my…Heart
- He wants my…Mind
- He wants my…Soul
- He wants my…Pride
- He wants my…Greed
- He wants my…Envy
- He wants my…Rage
- He wants my…Gossip
- He wants my…Jealousy
- He wants my…Idolatry
- He wants my…Money
- He wants my…Hopes
- He wants my…Dreams
- He wants my…Family
- He wants my…Vision
- He wants my…Passion
- He wants my…Desires
- He wants my…Hands
- He wants my…Feet
- He wants my…Lips
- He wants my…Intentions
- He wants my…Words
- He wants my…Hypocrisy
- He wants my…Determination
- He wants my…Arrogance
- He wants my…Love
- He wants my…Joy
- He wants my…Everything
- He wants my…Everything
- He wants my…Everything
- He wants my…Everything
Can I afford to give it to Him? How could I not? Monthly? Daily? Minute by Minute? Brad Cooper wrote a conversation between him and God and I couldn’t have said it better…I took out Brad’s name and put mine to personalize it. Do you ever feel this way? I do?
God: ‘Hey Ryan….’
Me: ‘…Yes Lord’
God: ‘If I owned your life, would it look any different than it does right now?‘
Me: ‘You do own my life…”
God: ‘You didn’t listen to my question. I know you SAY I own your life…’
Me: ‘gotcha…’
God: ‘Ill ask you again. If I REALLY OWNED YOUR LIFE… What would it look like today?‘
Me: ‘Different’
God: ‘Do you know what that gap is called son? The gap between your present reality and MY present direction.
Me: ‘No Lord… What do you call that space?’
God: ‘Disobedience‘…
Me: …………
What are you holding on to? Is God your everything? Do you really want that to be your prayer this week or only on Sunday? God is breaking me for Him to be my everything? That means my heart, my dreams, my plans, my sin, my life, my family, my goals, my career, my everything.
