Part 1: The Narrow Door of Belief

S - Luke 8:41-43, 48-50 (NIV): "41 Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. … 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” 49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”"

O - More than time elapses between Jairus' request and the healing/resurrection of his daughter. Circumstances unforeseen, delays which Jairus cannot control also elapse and bring a devastating change in status and an overwhelming opportunity to despair-- his daughter has moved from among the dying to among the dead. 'It’s all well and good that the woman is healed but at the expenses of my daughter’s life?' would be an unavoidable question. The crowd adds to the pain with their unsolicited and unavoidable conclusion: 'Don't bother [trouble not] the teacher anymore.' The idiom in the Greek is very descriptive: to skin, flay; to rend, mangle, to vex, trouble, annoy. What started for Jairus as something clearly beyond his capacities has just taken a quantum leap forward to light-years beyond that. It was already out of his control and it is now extremely, hopelessly out of his control. Jesus' instruction does not ask nor require Jairus to explain or reconcile the convergence of all these issues. Don't be afraid of facts, opinions, circumstances, impossibilities, track records, resources and the like. Do not be afraid PERIOD… just (merely) believe! In every day and in every way this is the primary assignment, response and requirement all followers of Jesus have.

A - Before I attempt to learn a lesson, find an explanation, draw a bead on the future or gain perspective for the current situation, I am called to merely, only, exclusively and relentlessly believe. This real, pleasing God faith is open-hearted, unrestrained by history, unintimidated by magnitude and fully vested in a Person not just an outcome. It is pure, life-reviving, light enhancing, joyous and unpretentiously confident in the One being asked. This is the narrow of door of faith which opens to nothing being impossible.

P - Teacher who is the Lord,

Thank you for your interest in the man Jairus and in his impossible situation. Thank you for your interest in the woman and her debilitating condition. Thank you for never being at a loss for anything and that answering one prayer is never a reason for another request being denied. Another's blessing will never be a reason for any lack I may have. In my person, position and all that revolves around me and in the dynamics which engage me I want to (and real life requires me to) believe. Lord, I believe help my unbelief. Lord, I am often at a loss to understand what and why but I can keep my focus on who … and you have everything in focus and in control. So, I will refuse the fear and I will embrace the only thing which counts: faith expressing itself through love. For all the times I have failed to love you back I am sorry. Today, while it is called today I turn into you, to faith and to specifically, personally and consistently loving you back. I will believe PERIOD.

Steve