Jesus' reply sounds like a rebuke to me: "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe." John 4:48. John just wrote about those kinds of people in 2:24 that many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew. There's a faith that comes from seeing signs. There's a deeper surer faith that comes from believing God's Words. The Samaritan woman at the well, the Royal Official both believed God's Word. Good question to ask myself: Must I see signs that change my world or will I still believe, even with what my eyes see? Oh LORD, move our faith forward a notch as we read and live this day.
I remember looking at my own son lying lifeless in the hospital bed last October, wondering what could have attacked such a strong strapping boy so suddenly not knowing if he would recover. Sitting in an ICU waiting room to see my husband for the first time since he had fainted at the wheel and crashed his car and the fenetic thoughts of losing him. Checking myself, alone, into ICU in another city in order for the doctors to take the baby that was alive inside of me or I would die shortly. What do we do in those crisis moments? I am reminded today of King Asa who intentionally followed God (I Kings 15:14) except when the crises arose. Do we go to our Good God for help? I Kings 16:7,9,12. Or do we go to the experts---man, doctors, lawyers, the professionals.
Praising God for growing our faith as we come to know Him and His Word better every day, not just looking for signs and wonders but looking for the Eyes and Voice of our Savior.
Your comments touched my heart today. I think of how our lives get so painful and so messy at times, yet when we run to Jesus, He fixes it by giving us grace to accept the pain of the healing. I thank Him for showing me grace, mercy, and compassion today as I learn how to follow. Some days it seems like a very slow pace. I keep stumbling (mostly words carelessly spoken) and then I pray. I need to remember to pray, then speak.
ReplyDeleteBev and Jan, thank you for the words God has given you to write for me today. I needed every one of them. Lord, Jesus help me remember how close you are to me whether I feel it or not and to constantly seek your presence through every life experience. Each blogger is such an encouragement to me as I walk this earthly path.
ReplyDeleteThis is a Song I Must Sing, Sylvia
I tried to post last week when the blogger was down and have just now discovered it is working again.
ReplyDeleteString of Pearls is a life line for me. Thank you for your shared experiences and prayers.
This is another Song I must Sing, Sylvia
And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
ReplyDeleteNot here-say based on someone else's experience, but our own testimony of His presence in our lives fans our faith.
My prayer for each of us this morning is Phil 3:10
that we may know him...
Blessed Sunday, Pearls.