1/15/21

"Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11:2-3)
"SOMETIMES WE DOUBT"
John the Baptist is in prison. He has broken no moral codes. His crime has to do with the message he preaches. Point of fact, he has called Herod the tetrarch an adulterer, and Herodias doesn't like that one bit. So, John is imprisoned for what he said.
John the Baptist was an outdoorsman. He wore a camel-hair tunic, with a big leather belt about his waist. He lived on what the land provided. He was a straight-shooter, speaking the truth no matter how unpopular the truth may have been.
But, now, he is in a dungeon, far away from the life he loved. He does not see the stars in the night sky, nor feel the warmth of the sun on his face. There is no green grass beneath his feet. And there are no animals to observe. He is languishing!
Doubt begins to seep into his soul. The ol' devil sits beside him, and whispers, "John, you are a fool! Look at where you are, and what you have been reduced to! God has forsaken you!"
The devil is a relentless, villainess, liar, and he takes advantage of every opportunity to slander God!
In the prison, John hears some things. His mother's cousin has a Son that is doing things that no one thought was possible! And He is preaching a sermon that no one had ever heard the Pharisees preach, before.
John sends word to Jesus, asking, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" (v. 3)
John's faith needs fortifying! Circumstances, and Satan, has weakened his resolve! He needs a word from the Lord!
Look carefully at Jesus' response. He was not angry at John for doubting Him. He was...KIND.
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:" (v. 4)
Jesus told John's disciples to go and tell John, "again", what you have heard and what you have seen! In essence, Jesus told them to go and be a witness!
That is our posture toward those who doubt! They don't need to be fussed at. They need someone to remind them of what we have heard and what we have seen!
Jesus gave them a list.
1) "The blind receive their sight,..."
2) "...and the lame walk,..."
3) "...the lepers are cleansed,..."
4) "...and the deaf hear,..."
5) "...the dead are raised up,..."
6) "...and the poor have the gospel preached unto them." (v. 5)
7) "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
(v. 6)
Sometimes, we doubt! Even the great heroes of the Bible struggled at times, because they were all human beings. Who knows this better than God? It was He that made us, and witnessed our fall!
Thanks be to God, that even when we doubt, God is still KIND!
Be KIND, today. And you will be like God.
From my heart to your heart.