Components of Belief #4
Component #4 -- Iron Clad Trust -- (Mark 34, 36) "While he was still speaking some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, 'your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further.' As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not be afraid; only believe.' "
In part one of the series, I said this of Jesus' command, "Do not be afraid; only believe," "This seems like such a simple command, but we all know there are times when life and its circumstances descend upon us so swiftly and mightily that it makes believing easier said than done." To most of us, this would appear to be one of those times but it wasn't for Jairus. The ruler of the synagogue had just received life altering news. His worst fear had come true. The one thing he had tried to prevent when he came to Jesus in the first place had become a reality for him.
His daughter had gone past being to the point of death, and was, at that very moment, laying dead in his home. Many of us would have become overcome with grief. Some would have gone into a fit of hysteria. Some of us would have even blamed Jesus for her death, probably citing his stopping for the woman the issue of blood as the reason. Not Jairus, though. His trust in Jesus was so iron clad, that the words Jesus spoke to him after Jairus received word of his daughter's death, "Do not be afraid; only believe," overrode everything including the opinions of the people who came from his house and told him it was useless to trouble Jesus any further.
Why? Jesus knew better. He trusted in what Jesus told him because he had seen what Jesus could do. He witnessed the woman's twelve year issue of blood healed by touching Jesus's cloak and he heard the Lord tell her it was her faith that had made her well. By being faithfully patient, Jairus also found the foundation for the ironclad trust which enabled his to disregard everything except Jesus' words.
He tasted and saw that the Lord was good and realized that by trusting in him he would be blessed. So, if we are children of God, then there is no doubt in mind that we have tasted that he is good. Let that experience be the foundation for our own iron clad trust. Experience the faith in God that not affected or influenced by events or what someone else said; a trust that is unshakeable and immovable, able to withstand whatever life throws at us, or the world tries to tell us. God has made promises to us all throughout his word. Trust in those promises because he who made them is trustworthy.
Prayer of the day: Almighty God, your Word is always true. Strengthen our faith to withstand the distractions of those who do not follow you. May our faith become iron clad trust in the One who keeps his promises. Amen.
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