01/17/2022
Do we serve a living God, and do we believe that Jesus sits at His side today, making concession for us there? Do we think the Bible is truth, or simply a collection of historic facts and stories that happened long ago? Do we believe that miracles happened then, but not now, or that prayer was answered in the time of the early church but not in this age? Sometimes I hear people, who claim to be believers, talking like the God of Abraham, and His Son Jesus are not truly alive, and are at best asleep, or have left us alone. Well, if they are not alive, and if they are not with us now as scripture says, then walk away, because there is no truth in this Book.
“Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?””
Daniel 6:19-20 ESV
Sometimes we tend to act more like King Belshazzar than Daniel by calling out a similar question, and asking if “the living God has saved us?” We want to believe that what scripture says is true, and that Jesus, and our God, are are alive today, but we just can’t seem to allow ourselves to believe it completely, and without hesitation. We say we believe that God will rescue us from the lion’s dens that we find ourselves in, and yet our actions prove otherwise. So many of us say “Come swiftly Lord Jesus”, but we really don’t want Him to come just yet. We pray “Heal our children” when we really want the doctors, and modern medicine, to heal them. Belshazzar was looking to validate that Daniel’s God was truly alive, and I ask today… Do we believe He is, or are we still testing Him and hoping that our belief is founded in truth, and that He is alive?
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17 ESV
What has God revealed to us? We follow Jesus, and sit at His feet studying scripture. We dine with Him each day as we thank Him for our meal, and let Him wash our feet by humbling ourselves before Him, but like eleven of the twelve disciples are we still harboring doubt? When Jesus says that He will answer our prayers are we actually convinced that this will happen, and when He says He will come to claim His bride, do we honestly believe that He will appear this very instant? Not in the next moment, because the next instant, or moment, never arrives, and it always hovers just beyond our reach. No, do we want Him to come NOW… right NOW?
““But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
Matthew 24:36 ESV
As I asked in our opening paragraph… “Are we still testing Him and hoping that our belief is founded in truth, and that He is alive?”
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the truth in your Word, and in the Gospel of Jesus your Son. Thank you for the blood of Christ that cleanses us, and His resurrection that has defeated death so that we can be with you in eternity. Help us Lord in our belief, and give us unwavering faith in you our God, and Jesus your son. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always; even in this modern age. Send your Son to claim us in this very instant as we breathe your breath of life. Have mercy on us Father, and hold us securely in your arms as we bury our face in you, and believe without reservation. Let you grace flow over us from Jesus, and never give us a moment’s doubt. Find us worthy, and call us your children as we answer you in the fullness of our faith, and take our seats before your throne… the throne of the Living, and Eternal God… our Heavenly Father.
“Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”
Daniel 6:21-23 ESV
Rich Forbes