GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 9:22
Ifs
Many times, faith mingles with doubt. For example, someone might say, “I don’t think you can do that, but go ahead.” It seems that all three of our sons rise to the challenge. I’ve noticed that when someone tells one of them they can’t do something, it becomes motivation to tackle the project. More often than not, they emerge smiling in success.
This same mingling of doubt and faith was reflected in the father who brought his son to Jesus for healing: “And he asked his father, ‘How long a time has this been with him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. And many times it has thrown him both into fire and water so that it might destroy him, but if you are able to do anything, help us, having compassion upon us.’” (Mark 9:21-22)
The unnamed father prefaced his request with the small but significant conjunction “if.” He was not one of the disciples. He had likely heard of Jesus and, seeing that the disciples were unable to help, approached Him with hope mingled with doubt, saying, “If you are able to do anything.”
I intend to examine my conversations with the Father to see whether any “ifs” remain.
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