Help Our Unbelief

So he asked his father, "How long  has this been happening to him?"  And he said, "from childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him.  But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."  Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."  Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"
Mark 9: 21-24 NKJV

I've often wondered just how much faith it takes to entice God to act.  Is there a finite measure that our Lord looks upon as enough to motivate Him?  This may sound silly, but many people will swear that this is true.  Not only that, our churches today make a point of telling us we definately need a goood "measure of faith" in order for God to move on our behalf.  I disagree with this.  In Mark chapter 9, we see the grieved father of a stricken child pleading the help of Jesus to help his son.  Now, Jesus didn't tell the man to increase his faith.  On the contrary, our Lord simply asked him to believe for, "All things are possible to him who believes."  Did the father believe that Jesus could help his child?  Well, in the begining it does not seem so, as he tells Jesus, "But if you can do anything."  IF JESUS can do anything?  If the creator of all the universe can do anything?  If He who sent His own Son, out of His love for us, can do anything?  I think this man didn't know just who he was dealing with at that moment.  In the end, he admits the weakness that has afflicted us all at one time or another, "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!"

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who believe in me through their word; that they all may be one,  as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that You sent me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
John 17: 20-24 NKJV

I find it interesting that Jesus, in His prayer in the garden of Gethsemene, would pray for future believers.  Interesting in the fact that as He prays, He asks the Father that those who come after Him would...believe.  Do you struggle with your belief?  Read  John 17: 20-24.  It is as if Jesus knew that we would struggle in our belief of Him.  And why not, for there were those in Jesus' time that also struggled with this same thing.  As the father of the demon stricken child cried out,  we also cry out to Our Lord Jesus, "Lord, help my unbelief!"  It's nothing magical or mystical, He only asks us to believe.

~Scott~