Unseen Belief

John 4: ⁴⁶ Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷ When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

⁴⁸ “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

⁴⁹ The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

⁵⁰ “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”

The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹ While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.⁵² When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

⁵³ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

⁵⁴ This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.

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“Trust me” were the words I had been burned by before. I mean those words seemed synonymous to “don’t believe anything I am going to say.” I wrote the check with the feeling of remorse and skepticism. Months later the investment flopped, just as I thought.

• Sometimes I am skeptical.
• Sometimes I have doubt.
• Sometimes I don’t trust so I develop my own plan to rest my mind.

A royal official could not heal his dying son by using influence or money. He went to JESUS to beg HIM to heal his son. JESUS said something that seems harsh. “Unless you see you will not believe.” “Go, your son will live,” JESUS said to the official. This was a moment of trust.

• JESUS wants me to believe in HIS power with faith.
• JESUS wants me to stop building contingency plans in case HIS plan for me fails.
• JESUS wants me to trust HIS word and obey what HE tells me to do.

Trusting in GOD means letting go of the fear, doubt and worry that so easily creeps into my soul. HE wants me to stop trying so hard and allow HIM to do HIS marvelous work. Instead of controlling GOD, HE wants me to trust HIM to do amazing things. GOD wants my faith to be in the unseen things HE does. I believe and trust GOD.

• Are you waiting on GOD to “show” you something?
• Do you feel you need HIM to do something before you can trust HIM?
• Will you put your trust in GOD today, before HE shows you HIS marvelous plan for you?

Prove Yourself

Matthew 16: The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

² He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

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“If YOU are GOD then…” were the immature words out of my mouth as if to say, “Prove YOURSELF to me.” Looking back on these words, I can see why they were a problem with GOD.

• When I say “If YOU are GOD” I really mean “I don’t believe who YOU are.”
• When I say “If YOU are GOD” I really mean “YOU should bow YOURSELF at my demands.”
• When I say “If YOU are GOD” I really mean “I am a better judge than YOU so prove YOURSELF to my standards.”

“Prove it” was the approach the Pharisees and Sadducees took towards JESUS. Their expectation of a military genius and a mighty, muscular, king was thwarted by this insignificant looking being who spread love and peace versus conquering enemies.

Since JESUS did not meet “their” expectation, they put up barriers to make HIM prove HIMSELF as being GOD to them. I have done the same. BUT GOD guides me back to HIM.

• GOD wants me to believe in HIM with childlike belief.
• GOD wants me to trust in HIM with my whole being.
• GOD wants me to obey HIM rather than tempting HIM to prove HIS abilities.

Parlor tricks are not GOD’s style. HE does not bow down to any human no matter their demands. HE deserves praise, honor and reverence from me because HE is GOD. All I need to do is believe.

• Do you doubt GOD?
• Do you try to force HIM to perform a miracle in front of you so you can believe?
• Will you stop trying to get GOD to prove HIMSELF to you and start trusting in HIM today?