(unmarked journal entry – presumably from matthew 12)

we are blessed to have such a record of God’s love and work as we find in the Bible. such a burden of proof rests on us as we read. God’s very words, His actions among his people, vividly laid out for us.

the pharisees asked Jesus for proof of His divinity even after hearing His words, seeing His compassion at work and the miracles that happened. how hard hearted and blind!

yet we often act like jacob trying to strike a deal with God. if He does something for us, we’ll return the favor. these leaders wanted more of what had already been done in order to even consider who He was & odds are that if Jesus had indulged them, they would have accused Him of being a showman and not the Messiah.

and so the burden of proof rests on us today. how do we respond to the words and actions of God in our life? Do we clamor for more, or do we trust that raising the dead, healing the sick and living the life that He did is enough?

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we must remember what ‘faith’ is…’being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see’ [hebrews 11:1]

if we claim to operate from faith, yet constantly ask God for ‘just one more sign’ or ‘if you would do just this one thing’ and then we’ll believe…we are not and do not live a life of faith. we are behaving just like the hard hearted pharisees who asked for more evidence, more proof.

the Christian walk is a daily step of faith. we trust in God, and in His words, that what He says is true. we cannot keep waiting for Him to make one more peg fall into place in our personal schemes and desires. we cannot presume to force the Creator of the universe to bend to our will in order for us to comply with His. what arrogance and spiritual naivete!  if you or i claim to love Jesus, and claim to belong to Him, we cannot continue in this walk of sin, shame and demanding of proof. the evidence is laid out before us. what more do you ask? make your decision, and then live it boldly.