Extra Steps

Can you imagine if a hidden camera followed you around each day?
Can you imagine sitting down at the end of the day and going over the dailies?
Would you be embarrassed?
Would you laugh?

If only there was a camera following me as I vacuumed.
I was going along, finishing our family room, and I saw a long thread on the rug.
I went over it with the vacuum and it was still there!
I went over it again, from another angle, and it remained firmly ensconced in my carpet.

I leaned over, picked it up, and threw it back down.
I wanted the vacuum to pick it up!
What?

It would have been just as easy to walk over to the trash can in the kitchen.
But it was the principle of the thing!
I was vacuuming and vacuums pick up dirt, and crumbs, and threads.

My actions made no sense!

Some people wash the dishes before they go in to the dishwasher.
Some walk around a store to find an elevator, when the stairs are right in front of them.
Others will ride around a parking lot to find a parking space on the side they prefer.

Things we do that make no sense.
Extra steps that need not be taken.

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet Him. “What are you arguing with them about?” He asked.
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of his speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
“O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “it has often thrown him into the fire or water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“If You can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed,” I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
(Mark 9:14-24)

Arguing.
Finger pointing.
Frantic attempts to fix the problem!

The spirit came out of the boy and he was healed, by Jesus’ command alone.
Jesus commanded the spirit to never enter the boy again.
The spirit had no choice but to obey.

After Jesus had gone indoors, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can only come out by prayer.” (Mark 9:28,29)

Oh, if there had been a hidden camera!
The disciples trying desperately to drive out the spirit.
The teachers of the law arguing about their methods.

Extra steps that need not be taken.
Why couldn’t WE drive it out?
This kind can only come out by prayer.

The extra steps we take that often make no sense at all!
We make it harder for ourselves.
We worry about what WE can do…how WE can solve the problem.

Extra, fruitless work.

Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God required?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
(John 6:28,29)

No extra steps.
No senseless activity.

Just believe…the only work that is required.

The father of the boy knew his own weakness.
I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

That should be our prayer as well.
We believe, yet we still want to DO something…as if belief is not enough.

Jesus said belief is enough!
Belief is the only work!
Everything else is senseless activity that keeps us from focusing on Jesus.

I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!