Beyond the Shadow of a Doubt
Today’s Verse:
Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. ~Luke 7:22
Discouragement is a tool that the devil uses to distract, disrupt, and disengage us from our fellowship and faith in the Lord. Discouragement clouds our judgment, leads us to second-guess ourselves, and question things that we used to be solid about in our faith. Once again, we see how the Lord Jesus helped someone special to Him during a time of great discouragement. This morning, let us see how Jesus helped someone remedy his discouragement beyond the shadow of any doubt.
We see a doubting PRODIGY.
John the Baptist was the last of the Nazarites. He was a powerful preacher of righteousness and man of God. Many in Israel came to him to hear his message that prepared the way of the Lord. However, we see John in a prison dungeon. John knew that he would never come out, and that he would either die in that prison or be executed. As the fame of Jesus increased, everyone throughout Israel, including John, heard of Christ’s mighty deeds and doctrine. However, John was so discouraged that he sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?” Doubting makes us question many things in our life, including God. We question, “Does God care?” “Is God in control?” “Why doesn’t God do something for me?” Discouragement can lead all of us to a dark place in life, and leave us cynical and searching for answers.
We see a dynamic PERFORMANCE.
Jesus did not answer these men at first. He brought them alongside of Him and quietly went back to ministering to people. He healed the sick, cast out devils, cleansed lepers, raised the dead, and preached the gospel. Jesus does the merciful and miraculous. Jesus does what only He could do. All the while, John’s disciples were following Jesus and observing everything He did in an entire day. Jesus was dynamically demonstrating that He is in control at all times. He demonstrated that people’s problems are not bigger than Him. He proved that, beyond the shadow of a doubt, He was the Son of God.
We see a directed PRECEPT.
Jesus told John’s disciples to go back and tell John the things that they had seen and heard. They were to tell what they had seen explicitly. They were to tell what they had seen excitedly. They were commissioned by Jesus to tell John blow-by-blow that they personally saw Jesus do. When people close to us are discouraged, they need a reassuring word from us. This reassuring word must give them hope that God is powerful and at work for us, even when we are discouraged. God uses you and me to help discouraged people to hear from Him. God uses us to restore hope and remember that God is an all-powerful God.
We see a durable PROMISE.
“And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” I can imagine John’s disciples as they excitedly told John everything they saw that day. Then, John would ask, “Is there anything else he said or did?” They said, “Yes. He said, ‘Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.’” By this, Jesus was encouraging John to be strong and not let his circumstances take him down. Don’t be ashamed of the Lord when things look bad. Don’t quit when you feel like your problem has no way out. Remember, problems bring out what is in us. Be resolved to be strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus when things are tough. Have faith in God beyond the shadow of a doubt!
This morning, you can be assured that your circumstance is a test to make you a better and stronger Christian. Get your eyes on the Lord, and remember that, beyond the shadow of a doubt, He is God!
Have a faith-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Chronicles 9-11