How many of us believe we are entitled to something?
Let’s look at it from a different vantage point…
How many of you have running water? How many of you have indoor plumbing? A toilet that flushes? A refrigerator/freezer to keep foods fresh?
How many of us can worship how we want without worrying about who is going to persecute us?
Those of us who live in the United States of America are spoiled and and we all think we are entitled to the freedom we have. This is simply not the case. Many men and women have given their lives so that we have the luxuries that many others in other places do not have. We take for granted the things we have. Running water that is clean and drinkable. A flush-able toilet, a place to keep foods fresh. We have become entitled to these things. Many have suffered so you can do what you think is just every day stuff. We need to remember what has been given so that we have what we do.
And then there is the entitlement our religion gives us. We believe we have the whole story and all of the truth and others must bend to our ways. Read Mark 9:14-29:
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:14-29 ESV)
Did you see that? The disciples couldn’t exorcise the demon from the boy. Because they did not pray we see at the end. They were not conversing with God and did not understand the needs maybe. But that is not my point. The man whose son is being held by this demon says to Jesus, “I believe; help my unbelief.” He said he believes in Jesus and God and knows that faith can do it, but help those places in me that maybe don’t get it. Maybe it is that he believes in the wrong things. Maybe he is looking to the law to set his son free. Maybe he is looking to his beliefs to set his son free. Maybe he is looking to what he can do to keep the law to heal his son. But none of these will. Jesus help my belief to be what it needs to be.
Jesus take my belief and turn it into the faith that you have for me. Help me to move beyond where I am to where you have for me to be. It is like us taking our current circumstances for granted as if we are entitled. Remember whose you are and that He controls everything.
aSacredRebel 