Sunday, July 1, 2018

The Gift of Faith

Mark 5:34, 36 (NRSV): The Gift of Faith
[Jesus] said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease” (34).
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe” (36).  
There have been too many times when I have heard people say, “You can’t prove that God exists.” Still, others have made the following retort to the question of faith: “No one knows what is true.” And I have to admit, there was a time in my life when I leaned toward the latter argument.
Faith is a gift of grace. But like all of God’s gifts, we have to be willing receivers. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews states that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (11:1). Faith, therefore, requires our “hope” and “conviction.” These two attributes do not come naturally to many of us, especially if we are tempted by society’s naysaying voice of doubt. It is all too easy to be seduced by the siren’s song of cynicism in our world and embrace only empirical data, limiting our belief to what we can see and quantify. Faith, on the other hand, requires us to step out in humility, trusting God’s grace and power in our lives. Faith means turning our hearts over to something greater than our selves, our logic, our empiricism, and our doubts. Faith, finally, is opening our hearts to allow God’s Spirit in therefore liberating us to become people of hope and conviction.
In the above passage from Mark, Jesus reminds both Jarius and the hemorrhaging woman that faith is the key component to his miraculous healing (in the case of the hemorrhaging woman) and his giving of life (to Jarius’ daughter). The hemorrhaging woman, although branded by society as unclean and an outcast, approaches Jesus just to touch his clothes. She believes this is all she needs to do to be healed, and she is right. Because of her hope and conviction of Jesus’ power, she is made well. Jarius, also, embraces hope when he chooses to follow Jesus’ command to eschew fear and embrace belief. Amidst the naysayers of Jarius’ house, Jarius listens to the Lord with conviction and hope that he will bring his little girl back to life. And Jesus does.
Although those same people in my life will continue to express doubt as their best answer to the question of faith, I hope to always be convicted by the examples in Scripture to which Jesus points -- a woman outcast hopeful for healing and a father convicted that only Jesus can restore his little girl.
As we serve those around us this week, let us remember Jesus’ words of comfort to this desperate father and woman: Faith, not fear, brings peace, comfort, and healing. Let it start with us today through our example of Christian love.  
Loving Father, please grant us the grace of faith in you, your Son, and your Spirit. And through that faith, let the world be drawn to your love, healing, forgiveness, and peace. We pray in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.
Have a blessed week!

Stan

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