Daily Devotion for July 19, 2006

Faithful or Faithless?

 

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."   The royal official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed. John 4:48-50

 

I could really relate to the scriptures we read today in John. Jesus is talking to a group of people, some who know him and some who are merely curious. He tells them that he knows that many of them will never believe in him and who he is unless they see signs and wonders. Then a man steps to the front and asks him to come with him to heal his child before death comes. Jesus doesn’t leave and go with him. Instead, he speaks and says, “You may go. Your son will live.” The man doesn’t doubt. He doesn’t ask him, “Are you sure, Lord?” He doesn’t put time limits, his own ideas or will upon Jesus. He merely accepts Jesus at his word and in obedience departs for home expecting the spoken miracle to happen as Jesus said.

 

 I, like most of you and the man in today’s scriptures, have many challenges to face in my life. I am a parent, a father, a son, a mentor, a brother, a friend, a co-worker, a supervisor, a servant and even though I am mentioning it last – it is not the least – a child of God. I have faith in the love, and power of my Lord. I’ve seen and experienced blessings of His faithfulness many times throughout my life. I have times of immediate faith when I know I’ve only to trust him at his word. But, I also have times when I’m so close to the circumstances that they appear to be larger than my God. There are some times I’m telling God how big my challenges, hurts, pains or troubles and relationships have become. These are the times my memory fades just like the Israelites. It is to my shame that I move from the closeness of my Savior and forget to tell my troubles how big my God is. When I move towards faithlessness, I am usually being disobedient to God and imposing my will upon my life.

 

 God has made promises. God made the promises but he didn’t ask or tell me what the timeline would be. He didn’t ask or tell me what circumstances would take place for His will to be accomplished. I know he has the power to resurrect the dead. I know he spoke the world into existence. I know he has a love so big he sent his own son to pay my sin debt. His ways are not my ways. His will isn’t subject to my will. I know he is faithful to keep his promises. I have heard him say you may go but I also take a step and look back for reassurance, then keep repeating the process as I try to have faith and act in belief.
 Do you, like me, walk a zigzag path at times? Won’t you join me in choosing to believe He is able, and asking for strength to take action and walk more in faith and obedience and less in faithlessness?

Quote by Fred Wolfe
 “Obedience does not begin with the outward act. Obedience begins in the heart with the will. There must be a deliberate act of your will if you are going to obey God. There are three choices you have to make with your will if you are going to obey God. First of all, you have to choose to obey God 100 percent. Second, you must choose to obey God whether anybody else does or not. Third, choose to obey Him no matter what it costs.

 

Prayer:
I’m guilty of asking You, Jesus, for help and then picking my burdens up and hauling them back with me as I leave your throne. Jesus, I have walked on both sides of the road of faith and I teeter in the middle of that road at times. Forgive me. I need your grace. I have been found faithful and I have been found faithless. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Lord, I have faith, help my faithlessness. I will be patient. Help my impatience as I await your timing in all things. Work your will in my life and in the lives of those I love. Help me to choose love and obedience at all times. Amen.

 

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