09/13/2021
What is it about Jesus that has given us faith in Him, and in which we have come to believe that He is not only the Son of God, but that God dwells in Him? Do we believe because He has told us who He is? Do we believe because of the stories and prophesies written in the Bible regarding Him, and His birth? Is it simply because of the miracles He performed during His lifetime, and in ours, or does our belief in Him require some of all these things before it can became real to us? Each of us is different in how we come to believe, some of us are led to believe like Peter the rock, some are like Paul who was blinded, then saw, and others are more like Thomas who doubted until he experienced the miracle of the resurrection with his own fingers and hand.
“Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”
John 14:11 ESV
It really isn’t the way we were first led to believe in God, and Jesus, that is so important, but simply in the fact that we do believe. Some might need to see with their eyes, some will need to feel with their hands, and others will need to use their minds, or hearts, to believe as they come to experience faith. Most of us need a little of all these things to first believe, and then to maintain our faith.
I love the story of John the Baptist who jumped in the womb of his mother Elizabeth when Mary entered the room bearing Jesus within her. The Holy Spirit gave John something very special regarding his faith at that moment.
“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,”
Luke 1:41 ESV
Then later as he stood baptizing in the River Jordan he immediately recognized Jesus with his heart and spirit to be a great man of God, and quite possibly the Messiah, and he was thus reluctant to baptize Him…
“John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.”
Matthew 3:14-15 ESV
But later in his life, as he heard of the miracles Jesus was performing, and thought on these things, he doubted within himself, and sent one of his disciples to question Jesus regarding who He really was…
“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?””
Matthew 11:2-3 ESV
Then in answer, Jesus told Him of all the ways He had led people to faith. He revealed himself to the blind by giving them sight, He brought the lame to walk with Him by healing their legs, He gave the sickly the strength to follow Him by healing their ills, He allowed the deaf to hear His voice, the dead to rise and believe, and the poor to receive the message of His coming… all by miracles. Then He spoke to John’s personal doubt rather directly by saying that those who weren’t offended by Him would be blessed.
“And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.””
Matthew 11:4-6 ESV
So in the course of his faith John the Baptist first believed by a revelation of the Holy Spirit, even before birth, then was awaiting the Messiah and felt Jesus to be Him as he stood in the Jordan, and finally, when doubting in his mind, his faith was lifted up once again by hearing directly from Jesus Christ an affirmation regarding who He was.
It is the same for us. Each of us needs to feel drawn to Jesus in order to first know Him, to believe, to have faith by some means, and finally to be reassured, and sustained in that faith during our times of doubt by various spiritual experiences… even through miracles, visions, hearing the voice of God with our own ears, or by placing our hand into the side of Jesus by doing miraculous things ourselves…
““Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
John 14:12 ESV
These are the things that become the individual witnesses we each experience regarding our faith, and they are infinitely varied. Everyone’s walk with God, and Jesus is a bit different than another’s as we make our way towards Heaven. So, as we walk along together, we are meant to thrill each other with the stories of our faith, and encourage one another with the incredible variety that is God, Jesus, and our individual relationships with Them. We reflect the infinite inspiration of God, even in our belief.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Collossians 2:6-7 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for leading us individually in our faith, and for the life, death, and resurrection of your Son Jesus who redeems each one of us by walking with us in our faith down a very special and particular path; meant for us alone. Thank you Lord for our personal relationship with you, and all that goes into maintaining it. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God of infinite love, and variety. Praised be your name for each reassurance we receive in our faith, and every way in which you help us in our unbelief. You are merciful Father, and call out to us when we begin to stray. You are unrelenting in your love as you come for us when we are lost, and sooth us when we are angry, or depressed, during our walk of faith. Your grace gives us hope Lord, and provides us with a means of reassurance regarding our relationship with you, and the belief that saves us. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, and forgive us our sins Lord. See the reflection of Christ in us, and call us your children. Seat us at your table, and feed us with the variety, and manna of your Word forevermore.
Rich Forbes