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Thursday August 21 - Assurance in things unseen He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to
believe those who had seen him after he had risen. Mark 16:14
“Give me indisputable proof and then I’ll believe” is often the understandable response of the sceptic. Isn’t that just what Thomas was demanding: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands... I will not believe” (John 20:25)? The reality of the kingdom of God is quite the reverse: you have to be born again before you can experience the reality of new life (John 3:3). Not so much seeing is believing, but believing is seeing!
Miracles are signs given to lead us to have faith in God. The Apostle Paul declared, ‘Jews demand signs (miracles) and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified...’ (1 Corinthians 1:22,23). Saving faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Throughout his ministry Jesus encouraged his followers to have personal faith in God. In the epistles we read that ‘without faith it is impossible to please God’ (Hebrews 11:6), and we must ‘live by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7).
This is not the first time Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith (see also Matthew 8:26 and 14:31). The Greek word for ‘to rebuke’ means to strongly censure; it is harsh because Jesus knows it’s only their faith that will sustain them in the difficult days ahead. The saints of old were ‘commended’ for their faith (Hebrews 11:2), meaning they received approval from God; a commendation based not on their works but on their faith alone.
Heavenly Father, please help my faith to grow in confidence and assurance. Amen.
Friday August 22 - Go and tell
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15
At the close of Mark’s gospel, it would be as well to ask ourselves, so what? Yesterday, we saw that the gospel message was given to inspire faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Today, we see the second reason: to go into the world to share the Good News with others.
We may not all be preachers, but we can all be ‘tellers’ – telling others the good news and how it has changed our lives. Testimonies are so powerful; we see this in prison especially, when ex-offenders talk about the radical changes Jesus has brought to their lives. We have a responsibility to go and tell; the devil loves silent Christians!
One day, when reading John 20:21 (“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”) the phrase, “As the Father sent me...” captivated me. I knew about the Great Commission to go into the world (Matthew 28:18-20) but how was Jesus sent? Jesus was sent as the embodiment of God’s word, empowered throughout by the abiding Holy Spirit and accompanied by signs and wonders (more of that tomorrow!). But first he had to go, to leave heaven for earth. Similarly, unless you and I go we cannot fully lay claim to God’s promise: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). So let’s go!
Heavenly Father, release my tongue and give me the courage to go and testify of your saving grace in word and deed today. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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