26-Mar-2024 – To have strong faith, observe what God is doing, rather than what he did not do
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. -Luke 7:23
In this portion Jesus is answering the disciples of John the Baptist regarding the confusion, whether Jesus is the Messiah or not. If we remember few things about John the Baptist, he only told publicly about Jesus as the Lamb of God.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. -John 1:29
By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist told about Jesus as the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world! But he was still in confusion whether Jesus is the Messiah or not.
We don’t know what John the Baptist expected from a Messiah and what he could not find in Jesus to have confusion, but somehow, his expectations were not met and he sent his disciples to Jesus to enquire directly.
For a practical believer, he receives the word of God in various situations regarding financials, family, health, career, ministry and many more. Sometimes, he will take it so happily and believe it and waits for the manifestation.
For example, say I received a word of God regarding ministering him. Then I will accept this very happily, then I will expect an opportunity to preach the word of God. Because, my expectation when I heard ministering to God, means becoming a pastor of a church.
Now, as long as I get opportunity to start small in a local church with an opportunity to teach the word and engage in some other leadership positions, the promise becomes more clearer and faith and hope will be strong.
If suddenly I lost the opportunity to attend the local church and lose the opportunity to preach or teach in a church environment, I will have a doubt whether, I was really called for ministering unto God or not, right?
But our God is the only faithful being in the whole creation. You cannot find no one else like him. Let’s understand that from Jesus’s answer.
Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. -Luke 7:22
Here Jesus was telling John that, look at what is happening instead of what is not happening. The things happening cannot happen unless they are guided, led and enabled by God.
Now in our situation also, God is asking all of us a question, whatever you expected to happen might not have happened. But did you observe what is happening? You might have lost an opportunity to teach or preach in a church setup, but what is happening?
Are you not receiving the guidance of God? are you not getting the revelations of God which a teacher must know before teaching others? Are you not getting experiences how God works in a situation and extract the principle out of it, so that you can use them as examples when you get an opportunity to teach?
Sometimes, God wanted us to learn in a different way, it is not always what you expect, but what you are observing? What you are learning from your daily interaction of God? Because God wanted you and me to have a personal relationship, not just something we heard from somewhere, but a first hand experience.
In this way, your experience with God will become unique to you, you will have an opportunity to understand his operations and manifestations. This makes your faith strong because you will know that your God is living, watching and listening God.
That’s why to nurture your faith, observe how God is operating in your own life!
Prayer
Dear loving heavenly Father, thank you for your love and grace. Thank you for teaching today an important subject. Many a times, when things will not happen according to our own expectations, we will doubt our understanding and your promise. But today you taught us about the understanding that we require to know how you are operating in our lives. Help me Lord to know that and mould my life accordingly. I pray in the mighty name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!
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