I was reminded of The movie Elf tonight, a particular scene where Santa’s reindeer lose their power to fly as a result of everyone’s lack of belief in Santa. So in a chorus of crescendoing cheese and cheer, a hesitant crowd gathers and sings “you better watch out…” Then suddenly, the deer move and the magic returns ~ enough faith was stirred up in the hearts of man to make those reindeer fly so that Santa could perform the miracle of his gift giving and Christmas would be saved.
I think Polar Express has a similar message.
What would make me think of this? Well, besides the fact that I’m astonished I have not watched it yet this season and was just telling my mom that at the first sign of snow we absolutely MUST see it THAT night…
It was actually when I read this in my Bible:
Is not this the Carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here among us?
And they took offense at Him and were hurt [that is, they disapproved of Him, and it hindered them from acknowledging His authority] and they were caused to stumble and fall.
But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor (deference, reverence) except in his [own] country and among [his] relatives and in his [own] house.
And He was not able to do even one work of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sickly people [and] cured them. And He marveled because of their unbelief (their lack of faith in Him).
And He went about among the surrounding villages and continued teaching.
(Mark 6:3-6 AMP)
Jesus is limited by our unbelief. Plain, Simple. Contrary to some of our Christianese jargon about how He is able to do all things, He was not ABLE to perform miracles in his home town. The level of disbelief rooted in the rejection of His authority…put Him in a state of shock.
Sure, continual sin may play a part in His not listening to our prayers for healing. But that just another example of those who are not yielding to Him spiritually. When we disregard or belittle his ability based on our own opinion or another person’s thoughts about him, and not what The Word says about him, we (just like his own hometown peeps) take offense, believe a lie, and that lie about his ability, love, power or authority over us – becomes the very root of an ugly, self-inflating unbelief. One that undermines and saps Jesus of his God given power to perform the very life changing miracles He was intended to do for us.
We squelch His power when we do not believe.
God, help me to believe more deeply and with more conviction than ever before. Help my unbelief in you whenever it surfaces, and call out the lies I am choosing over the truth.
I don’t want to be a lady from your hometown – a classmate or neighbor you grew up with who won’t see you for WHO you really are.
You are a whirlwind of wisdom.
A light so piercing that darkness screams in terror.
A force within me that calms tsunami-like ninety foot waves of fear. And heals the impossible, incurable afflictions.
Oh Jesus! Help me believe.
Chelan 