"The Bible is a remarkable fountain: the more one draws and drinks of it, the more it stimulates thirst."
- Martin Luther
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I believe in paradoxes. I have no problem with dialectical pairs revealing doctrinal truth (for example, security vs. perseverance, God as three distinct persons in one divine substance, and JESUS as God and man, to name a few).
With that said, Mark 9:24 has become one of my favorite New Testament passages:
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
The paradox of simultaneous belief and unbelief reminds me that even my belief is a gift from God, and my unbelief is a reminder of my frail, fallen nature. Like Paul in Romans 7:21, "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good."
JESUS, I believe in You and everything that You say and do. Please help my unbelief.
One of my favorite verses too.
I use it often with people going through doubts or anger at God. What I say is that he knew where to direct this prayer. His faith is not in the strength of his own faith, but in Jesus.