Does Jesus have credibility?

Does Jesus have credibility?  We may find ourselves at a crossroad when making a decision.  It could be a moral one.  It may be a faith decision.  It could be anything.  In John 5, we read the story of a sick man that Jesus heals.  In this case, Jesus approaches the man and simply asks "Do you want to be made well?"  The answer is a no brainer but it is interesting to see what happens afterward.  The now healed man is walking around with his bed, which by Jewish law was considered "work".  It happened to be on the “Sabbath” so he was breaking the rules.  When he was challenged by the prevailing religious authority at that time, the Pharisees, the healed man simply responds by saying that he was doing what Jesus told him to do.  In fact, it does not appear that the man gave any real thought to it; he was so enamored with God's love that he did not question obedience.

 If we find ourselves having a hard time, it would be helpful to remind ourselves of the sick man that Jesus healed and affirm that He has creditability with us, because He loves us so much.

John 5:1-15

-aJesusfollower

Don't be surprised by God

Now Peter continued knocking; and when the opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
Acts 12:16
In this illustration, Peter is locked up in prison and the church prays for his release.  God sends an angel, the angel walks Peter out of prison and Peter goes to his friends' house and knocks on the door.  The girl hears the knock, recognizes Peter's voice, and runs off to tell everyone, leaving him outside.  Then when they do go back to see who it is, they think it is a vision.  DOH!  Have you ever prayed and then found yourself surprised that God said yes?  It is true, we pray, we seek God, and then when God moves in our behalf, we are caught off guard.  Why is that?  We all struggle with doubt, and the reality that our Dad in heaven hears us and will say yes.  The good news is, He says yes anyway.  Yes, sometimes we may not feel like we do the right stuff we believe will make God pull the trigger and answer with a yes.  Reality is we can't do anything to make God pull the trigger, it is simpler, though harder, to simply accept that He will move in our behalf simply because He loves us and He can.  He is after all, Dad.

Watch Out for Distractions

God and the Good News of Jesus is straightforward. God sent His son to die for us, we accept the free gift, and God becomes our Dad.  But who is "Dad?" This is where the danger lies.  If "Dad" made the world, and the world is broken, isn't it inevitably His fault?  If it is, then how do I see Him? And how do I trust Him?  This is the tricky lie that can seep into our thoughts and discussions with other people.  It is a distraction that takes us away from thinking about what He has done that proves His character.  Looking into other ideas that may consider God as part of the problem rather than the solution is a slippery slope.  Jude reminds us that we should be alert to ideas that sound really good, but are just sensations that will take us away from a simple faith in God and His love for us.

Jude 3-4     

Childlike Behaviours

In the process of living out childlike faith it is possible to find ourselves acting like a child; which can be good or bad.  I am reminded of the apostle Paul who almost went on a missionary journey with Barnabas and John Mark.  During this particular trip Paul points out to Barnabas that John Mark, Paul's personal scribe, is a flake that bailed out on them last time things got tough.  Yes, the same author that describes in Romans what it is like to be adopted, is being both the grown up and acting like a child. He is following his Dad's guidance to spread the gospel to all the world, but delays the trip long enough to have a hissy fit.  Before Paul sets out for the trip, Barnabas tells Paul he wants to bring John Mark along.  In so many words, Paul tells Barnabas that it is either him or John Mark.  Here is Paul, the great man of God, the missionary sent to the Gentiles, the Pharisee among Pharisees, and he ends up acting like a kid.  It happens to all of us, and yet we see the great work God does through Paul, which should be an encouragement to the rest of us.

Acts 15:30-40