He's Is In The Room
Even when you think God isn't present in the middle of your storm, He is in the room. When you actually believe that God will never leave or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6-8), your faith looks different. The Centurion, a Roman Army, had "great faith." (luke 7:9) We see this in the beginning of chapter seven when the Centurion sent elders to Jesus asking him to come heal his servant who was very sick. (Luke 7:3) He then sent his friends to tell Jesus to "say the word, and his servant will be healed." (Luke 7:7) The Centurion had such great faith that he believed Jesus could heal his servant without being in the same room. What makes this even more amazing is that, the Centurion was a Gentile. He wasn't brought up knowing God, but yet he still had faith. He was humble enough to ask Jesus for help, because he had heard all Jesus had done. Do you have great faith? Do you have humble faith? What's your faith like when life isn't going your way? Do you still believe that God is able, even when it doesn't look like it?
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In some situations I believe that God will move on your behalf without you even asking him to. He knows us well enough to know what we need and when we need it. In Luke 7:13-15 Jesus saw a widowed mother holding her deceased son crying. He brought the boy back to life without her asking. Even when you don't have the strength to call on his name, he is there. Even when you don't have the strength to pray, he has already made the way. For so many people, in all of Judea and Galilee, these experiences created hope. They had seen so many encounters that they couldn't doubt God. John however still had his doubts and questions, (Luke 7:19) but Jesus didn't rebuke John. He reassured John that he was the Messiah using scripture to prove it, and John's doubt was gone. God can handle our doubts. Be honest with yourself and admit the areas where you feel doubt creeping in. Go to God and search for the answers. It's only when you face your doubts you can begin to resolve them. We have to go to the root of the problems or questions that we have and work through them. The time of over looking doubt is over, get to the root of it.
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John isn't the only one who had his doubts, the Pharisees STILL doubted that Jesus was the Messiah; they criticized both Jesus and John. (Luke 7:30) The issue the Pharisees had with Jesus and John had nothing to do with the laws they "broke", but everything to do with the Pharisees wanting to live their own life. Every chance they got they would point out sin in others to cover their own wicked ways. (Luke 7:39) A women full of sin went out of her way to wash Jesus' feet and Simon still had something to say. He didn't even do the things that this women did and he was the one who invited Jesus. Yes, I'm throwing shade, because make it make sense. Even Jesus made this clear in Luke 7:44-47.
He said I came to YOUR house and you didn't give me water for my feet, but this women wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. The Pharisees were good at rationalizing their inconsistencies and hypocrisy. We may even do this without noticing. Be careful not to rationalize sin or bargain with God. There is no straddling the fence, you either live for God or be of the world. There is no in between, sin is sin and wrong is wrong. When we face the inconsistencies or sin in our lives we have a chance to grow in wisdom; when we ignore the sin and inconsistencies in our lives we only allow them to grow. What do you want to grow in your life, sin or wisdom? I choose wisdom anyday.
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Take some time today, and everyday, to repent. The Father is ready to forgive you.(1 John 1:9) Don't let sin leave you feeling guilty, we all sin. Repent, and strive to live better the next day. This walk is daily, so take it day by day.