Meditations on Matthew 9:27-30

Last semester a friend of mine named Travis was speaking to me about praying even for the faith to believe that God is able to do what I ask in His name. Surely I have enough faith to have been saved (the beauty of the Greek language's description of justification that is lost in English translations is the way the perfect case works, which is past completed action with continuing results, i.e., "I have been saved"....that is a past completed event that took place at the cross, but it has continuing effects), but when there is a serious inner work that God wants to do in me that requires serious change, there seems to be a lack of faith there, and the reason God does not do what I ask is that I do not believe.

Matthew 9:27-30 is the simplest description and expression of faith in all of the Bible. All Jesus asks is, "Do you believe I am able to do this?" That was it! But was that all? 

First, the two blind men cried out "Son of David, have mercy..." By calling Him Son of David they acknowledged Him as Messiah (Christ) and Redeemer. If anyone could restore their sight it was Him. Furthermore, they said "have mercy on us." This is a strong imperative verb in Greek. Mercy is undeserved. These men knew who Jesus was, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ, the Redeemer, and they knew they were sinful and therefore undeserving of what Jesus was capable of bestowing.

There is an inner work that God wants to do in my life (and in all of our lives). I want it, and He wants it. For the purpose of this devotional I will call this a "healing," because these works God desires to do are all part of the restoration process, the process of restoring us from our sin nature and molding us into Christ-likeness. Healing is mercy. I don't deserve it. I do not deserve the outcome of healing. God does. It is to God's glory that I be healed. It is a robbery of God's glory that I remain "ill" by not accepting the healing He desires to bestow out of His mercy.

This must be the answer to my lack of faith. God's desire is for His own glory above all else. If I stop standing in the way of His glorifying Himself by doing a work in my life, will He not surely succeed? Why should there then be any doubt whatsoever about my healing and restoration? It is not I that can restore myself; it is God. It is not I who deserves to be restored; it is God. The moment I lay down my defense of God's power in my life, nothing remains standing in the way of God glorifying Himself. God will not stand in the way of His own purposes and His own will, so He will most definitely accomplish them!

What then is my role?  Do I believe He is able to do this?

What is holding my belief at bay? What is holding your belief at bay? Am I (or are you) afraid of losing my identity as the one who commits these sins? Am I afraid that a lapse back into my old ways is inevitable so I might as well indulge? What's the hangup?

And if I believe, it will be done for me according to my faith. Not according to what I deserve. I do not deserve to look like Jesus. I don't deserve to be used by Him. I deserve death. I have been given mercy and grace, and I have been made and called righteous. I do not deserve my salvation! I don't deserve what has been given to me. Isn't that what Paul called the Corinthians out on? "What do you have that you have not received, and why do you boast as though you have not received it?" (1 Cor. 4:7b)

It will also not be done according to what I want. It is for God's glory that He does a work in me. Who is made more clearly visible in the world by my restoration? He is! He wants me to reflect Him; I want to reflect myself--that is the dynamic of the Christian experience. Therefore, I must submit and lay down my own desires so that He can do as He pleases and accomplish His purposes through me.

It will be done according to my faith. It's not a matter of believing something good will be done for me. It's a question of worship. Do I value God enough to give Him the glory by believing He is able to heal/restore me, or do I value myself so as to withold God's glory for myself by remaining "ill" and refusing His healing power in my life?