Day 31: Help My Unbelief (Luke 9:37-62)
Today’s Passage: Luke 9:37-62
If you are familiar with some of the Gospel stories, there is a memorable one where a man asking Jesus for help cries out, “I believe, help my unbelief.” This is that scene. Luke does not capture that phrase; it is found in Matthew’s account of this episode.
It is where my mind went, even though these words are not in the text. But this section of text is full of unbelief. Consider the various ways not believing in Jesus enters our lives:
1. We read of an argument about who is the greatest. Jesus models the proper attitude, that of being more interested in others—even the least—than in our own greatness.
2. We read of other people doing great things in the Name of Jesus. Should we stop them? Again, here we are more concerned with ourselves, than others.
3. We read of people who will not welcome him, and so the question is raised as to whether these people should be destroyed? Here again, Jesus tells us not to trouble ourselves with such concerns.
4. Finally we read of the total commitment needed to follow Jesus, and how a few people appear to be more interested in being his fans, than his followers.
Why do I push on this issue? Because as followers of Jesus, look at the picture he paints. It is a picture of total commitment that is less interested in attacking other followers of Jesus, less interested in attacking those who reject Jesus, and less interested in our own personal importance, and more interested in seeing that people are served in his name—all people.