Could Have, Would Have, Should Have

 Happy Sunday!

"Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well."(Matthew 17:17 Message).

This scripture always makes me think of parents. Yes, parents. Can't you just hear your parents or even yourself saying, "How many times do I have to go over these things?" Jesus spent three and a half years teaching and training the disciples. He even sent them out and told them, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  HEAL the sick, CLEANSE the lepers, RAISE the dead, CAST out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."(Matthew 10:7-8 KJV).  At one point the disciples were amazed and said, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."(Luke 10:17 KJV).  But when a certain man brought his son for them to cast out the devil, they wouldn't do it.

You may think I should have said they "couldn't do it".  BUT Jesus said they could.  So why didn't they?  Great question.  I'm so glad you asked.  The KJV Version of Matthew 17:17 says, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me".  These are very strong words!  Jesus didn't coddle them. He didn't try to make them feel that they had done their best and it was OK.  He didn't make excuses and tell them, "you win some and you lose some"!  He told them they didn't have faith, and they were "unbelieving and difficult people"(Voice). OUCH!

Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(KJV).  Don't miss this!  One thing is required in order to please God, Faith. "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.(Hebrews 11:1 Living Bible). Then Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."(KJV).

We know what He wants from us, and we know how to get it.  So let's just do it.

Love and prayers, Cynthia