Thought for Today
Exodus 17:2 The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"
Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.
How do we know? How do we authenticate what we think, hear, read and/or believe? As Christians, are we called to ask questions, to test, to even seriously and deeply think about our faith and the world around us? Or, are we to merely ‘follow the leader,’ mindlessly marching in lock-step obedience?
John the Baptist questioned. “Matthew 11:2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" We should remember Jesus’ reply, "4 Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me."
Our ancestors-in-the-faith, as they struggled with survival in the unfamiliar desert, questioned Moses. "Exodus 17:3 Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" Moses had been commissioned by God to lead those ancestors-in-the-faith out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. Moses understood their questioning of him as a testing of God. A few verses later, after water was provided, we read, “17:7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’"
When Jesus began his ministry, there were and had been for some time others who claimed to be the promised Messiah. Even during the regnal period of Israel’s history there were false prophets. Sadly, even today, there are those who claim to be preaching the gospel good news. How do we know? How do we authenticate what we think, hear, read and/or believe?
When I took chemistry in high school, I learned about litmus paper. “Litmus paper is a filter paper treated with a natural water-soluble dye obtained from lichens. It is used as a pH indicator to test whether a substance is an acid or base.” (Bing search) Is there some equivalent test or device we can apply to our faith?
Was John wrong to send those disciples to question Jesus? Was John testing God by questioning God’s Son? I believe faithful Christians should ask that same question about all we think, hear and read in everyday life and in our faith lives. We should ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?"
We can then evaluate using Jesus’ response to that question. As we think about that response, it is instructive to remember Jesus’ response to another question, "Luke 10:27 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." We can ask ourselves, is what I am thinking, hearing or reading supportive of loving God and of loving my neighbor? Is this ‘good news?’ Does this promote hope? Does it actually help anyone or does it glorify God?
Regrettably, it is often not that easy to be sure. Thankfully, we are reminded at Pentecost that God knows, understands and has provided us a helper. Jesus said, “John 14:26 . . . the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit is our litmus paper on matters of faith, our determinant of truth or lie. We just need to heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit within each of us.
Stay safe, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit within you, trust God,
Pastor Ray