Tag: Belief

Posted on

A Red Umbrella

Daily Reading

Acts 11-13

Daily Thought

Herod the king discovered popularity with certain Jews by killing Christians, and so “he killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:2). Peter was next, but it was not to be. God intervened; “an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, ‘Get up quickly.’ And the chains fell off his hands” (Acts 12:7). Peter was led past sleeping guards and open gates and deposited outside the jail and inside the city.

It is fair to ask why Peter was rescued and not James–why one and not the other, why not both or neither. I do not know the answer to this, but I do know that neither was more important to God, nor more loved by God, because death is no worse a fate than life to the faithful, and both rest in the hands of God.

Perhaps due to the death of James, when Peter was taken, “earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church” (Acts 12:5). Also, due to the death of James, their faith was lacking. When a servant girl interrupted the disciples and informed them Peter was outside waiting at the door, safe and unharmed, their response was a faithless, “You are out of your mind” (Acts 12:15).

Once upon a time there was a farming town in the midst of a long drought and the people gathered at church to pray. Twelve year old Susie came, as well, and came prepared. By her side on the pew laid her red umbrella. She alone thought to bring one.

“Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed” (Acts 12:16). The disciples did one thing wrong, they did not have faith. Nevertheless, they did one thing right, they prayed anyway. Their prayer lacked faith, but they were faithful to pray. Pray and have faith, but if you find faith difficult, pray anyway.

And bring an umbrella.

Daily Prayer

Father God, I know that You are faithful and true. I know that You can do all things. I know that what You promise will happen.

God, I have faith. Help me with my faith. May I trust You and live my life reflecting my faith and confidence in You. When I pray, may I not be surprised, but still amazed, when You answer.

Amen

Daily Question

Are you confident God will hear and answer your prayers? How confident? Why?

Posted on

Do You Believe?

Daily Reading

John 5-6

Daily Thought

In the 1850’s, tightrope walker Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Falls several times on a rope two-inches thick and 1,000 feet long. On his first attempt, the bets were against him, but as he succeeded, and succeeded again and again, the crowds grew and the crowds believed. Everybody loves a good show, but when Blondin asked the crowd if any would ride on his back while he crossed, there were no takers. Belief only goes so far.

Rumor of Jesus coming to town brought people out of their homes “and a large crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick” (John 6:2). Everybody loves a good show. The crowd was expectant and Jesus did not disappoint. A boy with five loaves of bread and two fish provided all Jesus needed to feed the thousands. From this small basket of loaves and fish, Jesus kept pulling out more and more, passing them to the crowds until all had plenty, with leftovers. Now they were following him, “not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26).

Then Jesus told them of a better bread, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Jesus said he is bread from heaven, claiming God as his Father. The crowd disagreed, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (John 6:42). The crowds had first followed because they were curious, then because Jesus was interesting, and finally because he filled their stomachs, but were any prepared to put their life in his hands? Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever,” and he invited them to, basically, ride on his back. “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66). 

No one truly believed in Charles Blondin, not enough to put their life in his hands, but his manager, Harry Colcord, did. Colcord climbed aboard and Blondin gave his manager these instructions, “Look up, Harry, you are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. If I sway, sway with me. Until I clear this place be a part of me, mind, body, and soul.”

It is easy to believe until it’s not, and then you find out if you truly believe. Jesus asked the twelve who remained, his faithful followers, “Do you want to go away as well?” Peter shook his head for all of them, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” ~Galatians 2:20

Mind, body, and soul.

Daily Prayer

My Lord and God, Author of Life. Everything about why I am here, You are the answer. I love You and promise to follow You. I know it will be hard because Your truth is difficult. People want to do things their own way, and You demand that we follow You to find full and everlasting life.

I choose to stand for You, to stand with You, God. Thank You for standing with me because, really, I am not that strong (You knew that already.) But, in the power of Your Spirit by the authority of Your Son, I will stand for Your truth and live a life fully committed to You.

Amen

Daily Question

How much of yourself are you willing to give to Jesus?

Posted on

Death Can Wait

Daily Reading

Mark 4-5

Daily Thought

The daughter of Jairus is at death’s door. “Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live’” (Mark 5:22-23), What an opportunity, to save the daughter of a prestigious man. This would do much to advance the mission of Jesus. You would think. “And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him” (Mark 5:24).

Then, from the crowd, a woman (we don’t even get her name) “came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment” (Mark 5:27), and she was made well. For twelve years she had a bleeding illness no doctor could cure, but one touch healed her. And Jesus stopped. Jairus and his daughter and death would have to wait. “And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my garments?’” (Mark 5:30). 

“Everybody!” thought the disciples. “You are in a crowd. Hurry up Jesus. You have to get to the home of Jairus. This is important,” but the immediate is never more important than the eternal. “The woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease’” (Mark 5:33-34). Jairus’s was not the only daughter who needed the touch of Jesus.

While Jesus is not hurrying, while he is taking valuable time to talk to this woman–who is already healed, by the way–the news Jairus feared arrives: “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” (Mark 5:35). 

But the limits we place on God are not God’s limits. 

“Overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’” ~Mark 5:36

A little girl on the edge of death seemed to be what was urgent, but Jesus was interrupted by a woman. Death could wait while Jesus paused to heal this woman, but death did not wait and the little girl died. No matter, the King of kings is the Lord of life. “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:42), and she did.

Daily Prayer

My Great God, what an amazing story, Your Son born a baby to Mary. No earthly father, but a Heavenly Father, a poor family, peasant shepherds announcing His birth, a Friend of sinners and outcasts, and yet Jesus is King of kings and the Lord of lords. Big things come in small packages.

You came humbly and changed the world. You defeated all enemies, including the last enemy – death. You have established an eternal kingdom of peace and declared the good news of salvation. I’m listening and believing, and my life has been changed forever. Thank You, my God and Savior.

Amen

Daily Question

Is your schedule organized more by what is important or what is urgent? What’s the difference?

Posted on

Do You Believe?

Daily Reading

John 5-6

Daily Thought

In the 1850’s, tightrope walker Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Falls several times on a rope two-inches thick and 1,000 feet long. On his first attempt, the bets were against him, but as he succeeded, and succeeded again and again, the crowds grew and the crowds believed. Everybody loves a good show, but when Blondin asked the crowd if any would ride on his back while he crossed, there were no takers. Belief only goes so far.

Rumor of Jesus coming to town brought people out of their homes “and a large crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick” (John 6:2). Everybody loves a good show. The crowd was expectant and Jesus did not disappoint. A boy with five loaves of bread and two fish provided all Jesus needed to feed the thousands. From this small basket of loaves and fish, Jesus kept pulling out more and more, passing them to the crowds until all had plenty, with leftovers. Now they were following him, “not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves” (John 6:26).

Then Jesus told them of a better bread, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Jesus said he is bread from heaven, claiming God as his Father. The crowd disagreed, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?” (John 6:42). The crowds had first followed because they were curious, then because Jesus was interesting, and finally because he filled their stomachs, but were any prepared to put their life in his hands? Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever,” and he invited them to, basically, ride on his back. “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66). 

No one truly believed in Charles Blondin, not enough to put their life in his hands, but his manager, Harry Colcord, did. Colcord climbed aboard and Blondin gave his manager these instructions, “Look up, Harry, you are no longer Colcord, you are Blondin. If I sway, sway with me. Until I clear this place be a part of me, mind, body, and soul.”

It is easy to believe until it’s not, and then you find out if you truly believe. Jesus asked the twelve who remained, his faithful followers, “Do you want to go away as well?” Peter shook his head for all of them, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” ~Galatians 2:20

Daily Prayer

My Lord and God, Author of Life. Everything about why I am here, You are the answer. I love You and promise to follow You. I know it will be hard because Your truth is difficult. People want to do things their own way, and You demand that we follow You to find full and everlasting life.

I choose to stand for You, to stand with You, God. Thank You for standing with me because, really, I am not that strong (You knew that already.) But, in the power of Your Spirit by the authority of Your Son, I will stand for Your truth and live a life fully committed to You.

Amen

Posted on

See and Believe

Daily Reading

Mark 15-16

Daily Thought

The chief priests and the Hebrew council stood before Pilate, the Roman Prefect of Judea, and accused Jesus of any crime they thought might stick, the most damaging his claim to be King of the Jews, a crime that carried sentence of death. “‘Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you,’” asked Pilate. But Jesus made no further answer” (Mark 15:4-5). It was as if he was determined to go to the cross. 

Pilate thought him innocent, however, and had an idea. Each year at the Passover feast, Pilate would release one prisoner of Israel’s choice. Pilate offered Jesus, they chose Barabbas, “so Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified” (Mark 15:15), because whenever we choose to satisfy the crowds, we inevitably crucify Jesus.

Even while on the cross, Israel’s chief priests and scribes continued to jeer, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe” (Mark 15:31-32), as if he could not. It was, rather, that he would not. They were looking for the wrong sign.

“No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” ~John 10:18

What the religious leaders failed to see is what the centurion saw and believed. The centurion had seen many men die. No man, not one, had died like Jesus. “And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:39).

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~Hebrews 12:2

Daily Prayer

Lord God, You are awesome. You took the cross, exploded from the tomb, conquered death, defeated Satan, and rescued us from sin. You are risen, You are alive, and You are King.

You truly are the way, the truth, and the life. You are Savior. There is no other Name under heaven by which we may be saved, not because you could not, but because you would not come down. You stayed on the cross. You humbly died for me. May I boldly live for You. You are the King.

Amen