I was walking along minding my own business when these two blind men began to follow me. Almost sounds like the lead in to a joke? I mean how do men who can't see follow someone? But that's what happened... When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying... “According to your faith let it be to you.” And their eyes were opened. Matthew 9:27-30 NKJV And after the two men left, they spread the news about what Jesus had done for them... they became witnesses for the mercy He gave them in exchange for their faith. Not only that, but they brought another man to Him for healing. Their faith was contagious. And while this message is not a new one to most, I must challenge the opposite? Could it be said also, that if someone does not believe that this could be contagious? Because on a different day... He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished... Mark 6:1-2a Here was Jesus, returning to where He had grown up. And when He opened His mouth and taught them, now as a man they were amazed at His teaching. But then they began to question... Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary... So they were offended at Him. Mark 6:2b-3 These people knew Jesus as a little boy, as a young teen. They had seen Him grow up and they knew His family. They began to question how He came to this wisdom since He was trained to work with His hands rather that studied or educated under a Rabbi like all good prophets would be. And then they dragged His widowed mother into it. Most likely implying His illegitimate birth to demean Him. So they were offended at Him. How quickly people can turn when one from humble beginnings returns successful and enlightened, even beyond their grasp. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Mark 6:4-6 Can you imagine that? Jesus healing people, casting out demons, performing the most amazing miracles everywhere He went... except in His home town. Because they did not believe in Him. It was more than simply people without faith. Because Jesus came across those in many places He went. And most of those became believers by the time He left. But these people had unbelief. These people had doubt and offense. Their belief actually opposed Him. And it was contagious among them as they gathered, talked and gossiped. And He marveled because of their unbelief. You know the last time I recall Jesus marveling... Was over someone's faith; A man's belief in just the authority of His word. I can only imagine how He must have shook his head. How unfortunate to consider all they missed with Jesus. But I will say, that I am somewhat relieved to learn of this encounter... this experience Jesus had with these negative people. For I have experienced my own variety of unbelief and contemplated it's contagion. You see I've met people who have placed great faith in God and been healed in the most miraculous and astounding way. And witnessing such has encouraged me to stretch my faith to a bigger and greater capacity, asking for more than I had before. Contagious faith! But I also have known someone who spoke such negativity, and walled themselves off from all help and healing that they faltered and failed at every turn. And no matter how much I prayed, no matter how badly I wanted to believe for healing and encourage them, I struggled with my faith that they could get better... that they would be fully healed. Because I knew that their constant mindset of negativity bound them in unbelief. Contagious unbelief! I will admit to you that I felt condemned often for not believing enough. For not having faith enough to overcome my someone's lack of faith... so faith never prevailed. Victory never came. So at least in this, I have relief. Jesus marveled because of their unbelief. He too wondered how they could come to such a disillusioned end... how they could live in such negativity. Life is too short... but a wisp, a vapor, to be lived in unbelief. And our words and actions are contagious, like it or not. Those spoken in faith and those comitted to unbelief. Word of God train me today... To trust in You with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding, in all my ways to acknowledge You, knowing You will make my paths straight. To keep in mind that my faith is contagious, as I live it out before others, that I may boldly show it courageous and lifted to You.
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January 2019
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