No Doubt

No Doubt

Hebrews 8: The whole point of what we are saying is that we have such a High Priest, who sits at the right of the throne of the Divine Majesty in heaven. ² He serves as high priest in the Most Holy Place, that is, in the real tent which was put up by the Lord, not by human hands.

 

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Sitting on the trunk of my car, I just waited. I didn’t know where I was, but I knew I was very far from my apartment, so I couldn’t walk. My car had broke down and I did not have a phone. It was night. Not too long, a couple picked me up and took me to a rest area. They asked me if I knew CHRIST as my Savior.

 

• I was relieved to get some help.
• I was more relieved that someone who believed in CHRIST picked me up.
• I looked back at the situation and saw that the entire rescue was out of my hands.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, seems to address the fallibility of humans. As unreliable as a human can be, they are chosen as priests. But JESUS serves as the one and only High  Priest, who sits at the right hand of GOD. HIS authority is infallible.

 

My Observations:

• When I rely on my abilities I can get scared, BUT GOD has all the power I need.
• When I think there is no way out of a situation I get worried, BUT GOD is there to show HIS power.
• When I doubt that a solution will not come, GOD provides in ways I did not imagine.

 

Doubt is easy to fall into. I mean, when trouble arises and my abilities seem to be lacking, I worry about how the situation will clear itself up. I replay the trouble and try to come up with a plan, but reality hits and I see that my abilities to solve the situation are far away. BUT GOD steps in and provides.

 

HE places me in situations where only HIS power can solve them. HE then shows me that I can rely on HIS power to solve any problem, if I believe HE can and will do it HIS way. HE always comes through in HIS way and HIS time. I am glad I can place my full trust in HIM with no doubt.

 

Challenge

• What is the “point” the writer is trying to make?
• Have you ever needed something and felt it was impossible to get what you need?
• Will you place your full trust in GOD and know HE has your situation in mind so you can get rid of any doubt today?

Edge of Doubt

Edge of Doubt

1 Corinthians 1: ⁴ I always give thanks to my God for you because of the grace he has given you through Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in union with Christ you have become rich in all things, including all speech and all knowledge. ⁶ The message about Christ has become so firmly established in you ⁷ that you have not failed to receive a single blessing, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸ He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be faultless on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

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After the evaluation, I felt pretty beaten up. “You are average” I was told, but this time I had worked extra hard and other people said they loved the results. “Am I not as special as some people say?” I wondered.

 

• I have wondered if something was wrong with me after working for certain people.
• I have questioned my capabilities even when others have confirmed them.
• I have doubted GOD’s love for me after working for certain people and being in certain churches.

 

Paul gives a huge word of encouragement to the people of Corinth. He expresses his gratefulness for them and lets them know the message of CHRIST has been “firmly established” in them. This is great news!

 

• GOD wants me to know that my wealth comes from knowing about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know that HE is pleased when I speak about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to know that it is HIS power that keeps me firm in the faith, not mine.

 

Doubt can be corrosive. I mean, when people express their doubt to me, it can corrode the promises GOD made to me. BUT GOD took care of that too. HE does not make a promise HE cannot and will not keep. GOD knows me inside and out and yet, HE still called me to have fellowship with HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.

 

GOD is to be trusted, unlike those who plant the seeds of doubt. The enemy wants me to doubt GOD so I will stay confined under HIS socially accepted addictions. Instead, GOD wants me to place my full trust in HIM. I am grateful it is GOD who keeps me firm to the end and will find me faultless on the day of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

 

• Has doubt crept into your system because of the reaction of people around you?
• Did GOD make a promise to you and it has not come to fruition yet?
• Will you rest assured that GOD is the one who will keep you firm so you do not have to be concerned about messing up or need to try harder to please HIM?

Doubt Repellent

Mark 11: ²⁰ Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. ²¹ And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

²² So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

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“I’m going to make it” I thought to myself. Immediately after thinking this marvelous thought another thought crossed my mind. “But what if you don’t make it? You may get hurt.” I tried anyway. I threw one leg over the fence, as I saw everyone else do, but hesitated with the other. My pant leg got caught in the link fence, slamming my face into the links.

• Sometimes I doubt.
• Sometimes I fear.
• Sometimes I hold back because there is a part of me that just does not believe.

JESUS pointed out special power that is available to everyone. HE had to get Peter to see that it wasn’t about the fig tree at all. But what am I supposed to do?

• JESUS says to me “Ask me for anything when you pray to MY.”
• JESUS says to me “Believe that you will receive them and you will have them.”
• JESUS says to me “Nothing is possible with humans, but with GOD all things are possible.”

By placing every request at JESUS’s feet enables HIM to be LORD of my life. HE has the right to say “No” to my request, yet I should believe that HE can grant the request if HE desired to. This, however, sometimes creates a conflict. “Am I praying for the right things?”

JESUS wants me to cut it out and move forward. Pray, believe and receive. That is my only concern.

• Are you dreaming of something but have doubts?
• Do you think you want something large but feel so small that you think you dream cannot be reached?
• Will you place your doubt in JESUS hands along with your dream and ask to be filled with faith?

See, I told you so!

Jude 1: ²² Be merciful to those who doubt

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Sitting in front of the professor I heard the words of doom come from his lips. “Unless you write an excellent final, you will fail this course.” He then followed with these words “Why don’t you consider changing professions.”

That’s all I needed to hear! His words seemed to fuel rage and anger that drove me to outperform many in the industry. What was that professor’s name? Maybe I’ll go back to the university and gloat in his face.

• Just because someone doubts me, doesn't mean their doubt is true.
• Just because someone doubts me, doesn't mean I should treat them differently.
• Just because someone doubts me, doesn't mean my abilities are broken.

There have been many situations in which I have proven people wrong about their doubts in my abilities and skills. I threw the “I told you so” in their face and gloated exponentially. What did it get me? I made an enemy rather than winning over the doubter. I wonder what went wrong.

• GOD wants me to show mercy on people who doubt me and especially who doubt HIM.
• GOD wants me to show grace on people who seem to be going their own way and leaving HIM.
• GOD wants me to show love to people who are difficult to love in hopes that one day they will trade rejection of CHRIST for HIS love.

I have a tendency to distance myself from doubters. I mean they really drag me down. BUT GOD wants me to show mercy so their faith can grow and all eyes will be on HIM.

• Do you have doubters in your life?
• Are you moving away from doubters because you have a hint of doubt?
• Can you show your faith without being judgmental or without gloating?
• Won’t you show mercy to the doubters by helping them grow?