What is the Answer?

Matthew 17:9-13

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2017:9%20-%2013&version=NIV1984)

Have you ever been told to “listen”?  Maybe it was a teacher or a parent who said, “Listen to me!” and you knew that they meant to do what they said.  Or maybe you had a husband or a wife say to you “look at me, I want to know you are listening”.  Whatever the case may be I am sure there have been times when people wondered if you were truly listening to them. 

In these passages we see the disciples, Peter, James, and John coming down from the mountaintop, Jesus is talking to them, they have been instructed to listen, but are they listening to what He is saying?  There is some indication that they were listening as they recognized and understood who He was talking about. When someone is truly listening they begin to understand what the other person is saying.  Just as Jesus spoke in parables, only some people understood.  Listening is not just turning an ear towards another person or looking at them when they are talking, it is asking questions and listening in order to understand what is being said.   The disciples were doing that.  They asked questions and they understood what Jesus was saying but only partially. 

There is evidence that they still did not understand that Jesus was going to suffer and die just like John the Baptist had to suffer and die.  What is even greater is that they did not seem to hear that He would rise again.  I find it very interesting that Jesus took these men with Him another time but this time it was to pray.  You can find the account in Matthew 26:37 – 38.

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:%2036%20-%2038&version=NIV1984)

I have to think that if they would have listened to Jesus coming down from the mountaintop they could have been a little more comforting to Him.  They heard Him but yet they didn’t.  He took them because He knew that they, of all the disciples, would understand the agony He was going through and maybe they could be His trusted companions that could give Him strength through prayer.  Even though Jesus knew the outcome, He became stressed at what He was going to have happen to Him.  And where were His friends?  They were falling asleep, no empathy, just sleep. 

Have you ever been there?  Have you thought they you deserved to be listened to but no one would listen?  They might have pegged you as a trouble maker when you asked questions?  They may have said you were stuck-up when you simply were trying to listen and understand when others were talking.  Do you ever question God?  It is okay to question God but you better be prepared to listen to the answer.

At those times in our life when life gets rough, we, like Jesus, need companionship, friendship, and a listening ear.  Jesus demonstrated this by taking His disciples with Him to pray.  He was not counting on them falling asleep.  He counted on them remembering what He told them coming down from the mountain.  Yet, while He was crying to God in agony they were falling asleep.

Which one are you?  Are you the one that needs to be listened to or are you the one asking the questions?  Are you the one that needs comfort a friend or the one that needs to be comforted?  Wherever you are at, remember that you have a comforter in Christ.  You have one that will listen to you but you also need to remember to be still and know that He is God.  You need to be still and read His word.  He has the answers for you but you must be willing to receive them.  Seek Him and find Him when you seek Him and listen to Him with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Listen

Matthew 16:28-17:8

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²⁸ I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:28%20-%2017:8&version=NIV1984)

I put the last verse of Chapter 16 with these verses in Chapter 17 because it is my understanding the men that Jesus was talking about in verse 28, were the same ones that He took to the mountaintop.  These men saw Jesus in all His glory up on the mountaintop and with Him were Moses and Elijah.  Do you wonder how these verses relate to us today? 

Every time I read this passage I have to kind of chuckle at the response of Peter and I think I chuckle because it may have been my response as well.  Sometimes when we don’t know what to do we try to do everything that we don’t need to.  Let me try to explain.  Peter knew this was a special moment and wanted to do something.  I think he was much like Martha who was busy in the kitchen.  She wanted everything to be just right for her special guests but just like Martha, Peter was cut short with his desire to “do”.  I think it is very important to note what God instructed these men to do.  After identifying Jesus as His Son, He tells them to listen to Him.  Wow, let’s take a look at what was going on with Mary and Martha and compare.  Luke 10:38-42

 ³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:38%20-%2042&version=NIV1984)

What was Mary doing?  She was sitting at Jesus feet, listening to what He had to say.  What did God instruct the disciples to do?  Listen.  Just as Peter was busy doing, so was Martha.  Sometimes in our lives we seem to get so caught up in what we are “doing” that we forget to listen to what Jesus is telling us.  We even seem to forget that the Word of God is at our fingertips.

The disciples fell on the ground, face down at the response that came next and they were terrified.  When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus. Today, when we fall down in fear and trembling, when we look up, we see Jesus.  Jesus is there to calm our fears and pick us up.   Even though we do not have the visible appearance of Jesus we have the Holy Spirit who does just as Jesus.  He will touch us, tell us to get up, and gives us Words to listen to.

Are you listening to Jesus today or are you too busy trying to fix everything on your own?  Don’t get so caught up in “doing” that you end up missing the opportunity to listen to what the Lord has to tell you.  I have often wondered what the disciples missed by trying to “do”.  If they would have listened to the conversation with Moses, Elijah, and Jesus what might they have learned?  If we will sit and listen to what His words are telling us rather than trying to satisfy Him by doing things, wow, what a blessing we would receive.  I believe that everything we do should be done as if doing it for Him but I don’t believe that everything we do is what pleases Him.  He made that clear with His response to Martha and to how God responded to Peter. 

So many of us try to equate success, happiness, and fulfillment through what we “do” when in actuality we need to realize that the important thing in life is to listen to Him.  I have found that out in my struggle with an identity in this world through my “work”.  I get frustrated and confused when I think of how things vocationally have turned out for me.  But one thing I know is that when I get into the Word, listen to what He is telling me, write it down, and  share it in a women’s Bible Study, I grow closer to Him.  It isn’t the “doing”, (writing and sharing) that bring me closer to Him, it is the fact that I took the time to “listen” to Him.  I don’t’ feel burdened when I write or share because I have taken the time to listen and grow prior to writing and sharing.  All that is required is that we first listen to Him.  Are you listening to Him today?    Success in this world is not gained from what we do but to whom we listen to.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

What You Do Matters

Matthew 16:26-28

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²⁶ What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. ²⁸ I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:%2026-28&version=NIV1984)

This past week has been especially rough on me.  I have gone to the funeral of a young lady who decided this life was not for her.  Work has been extremely difficult for me emotionally.  Then there has been graduation, a time when school comes to an end and for teachers you begin to look at a little break while thinking about next year and what it is going to be like.  Unless you are a teacher or in the field of education you might not really understand what I am talking about.  Then the emotions of last year came to surface.  For those of you who are unaware, the school I was the principal closed and I was without a job, a job that I truly loved and worked very hard at.  It is a difficult time for me right now and I once again am asking, “What am I supposed to do?” 

As I read this scripture, our first and foremost duty is to have our soul in check.  If I could go out in this world and have any job I wanted yet did not have time for the Lord, it would only satisfy us for a little while.  We can be satisfied in the world when we have the Lord as Lord of my life.  We don’t need to gain anything from this world but we need to gain only His approval.  What we do in this life does matter, it matters to God and He will reward us according to what we do for Him. 

 If you are someone who pours your heart and soul into your work let me tell you a little about how that goes.  You will find that you have more time for work than you do for the Lord.  You may make a lot of money but your family may suffer in the process. 

From my experience I poured many hours into what I did and I did my work as to the Lord not for man and I am sure I received the Lord’s blessing.  That is what I can be assured of.   However, for those I worked for, there was no loyalty to me.  When it came to money or lack thereof, I was the one that was without a job.  This world will love you when they can use you and they can drop you when they are out of money or want more for themselves.  I urge you not to be so caught up in the job that the important One and ones (family) get left out of your life.  Cling to the promises of our Lord and Savior.  Trust in Him and do as He guides.  Be satisfied with what you have as long as you have Him first.

As I write this I struggle with being satisfied yet I know I will one day be satisfied through Him that came to give me peace.  I continue to want to make a difference yet I struggle in how that is going to be done and I become very impatient as I wait and wonder what is next.  I have a desire to do something but no burning passion as to what that is.  My greatest passion is spreading the word of God through this blog.  I hope you will be blessed as you read the words that the Lord gives me to write.  I ask that you please pray for me as I search and become unsettled at times, that I will know that at this time I am doing what the Lord would want of me and that I will patiently wait for that great reward.

We will look at verse 28 in the next blog.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila  

Following Jesus

Following Jesus

Matthew 16:24-29

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:%2024%20-%2025&version=NIV1984)

What does it mean to follow Jesus?  Many of you may have sat around a campfire and sang the song, “I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus; no turning back, no turning back.”  Did you really know what you were singing when you sang that song or was it just a good feeling? 

As I thought about that song I went to the lyrics and found an interesting verse that I didn’t remember singing.  It went like this, “Though I may wonder, still I will follow; thought I may wonder, still I will follow; though I may wonder, still I will follow; no turning back, no turning back.”  I am sorry but I don’t think that is what Jesus is telling His disciples.  It seems to me that it would give us permission to wonder and I don’t hear Jesus telling His disciples to wonder. 

The next verse is more what I would say is what Jesus is telling His disciples with one exception.  “The world behind me, the cross before me; the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me; not turning back, no turning back.”  Yes, the world should be behind us but the cross should be in our hands, not before us.

Jesus tells the disciples just exactly what it meant to follow Him.  Just like us, I don’t think they really understood.  After all, they knew that He as the Son of God, that He was in control, and I think they thought, like Peter and us, “this is going to be a piece of cake”.  With God in control, He won’t let anyone harm me.  Yet that is not what Jesus is saying, is it? 

First He says that we must deny ourselves.  Now that is a far cry from what we hear today isn’t it? We hear, “if it feels good, do it”.  Like I said in my last blog, we hear “you deserve it”; “you owe it to yourself”; “take time for yourself”. . .  We have all heard it sometime or another and I would imagine that most of us bought into it.  But, that is not what Jesus is saying.  He is telling us that we should no longer think of ourselves, we need to deny ourselves.  Now that is not an easy task so why do you think He tells us this?  If we get so stuck on ourselves don’t we have a tendency to not think of others?  When we get stuck on ourselves do we tend to forget that our God is in control?  When we are stuck on ourselves we don’t see the pain around us because we are so concerned about our own pain. 

Note what He says next, He tells us that we must take up our cross daily.  I think of Jesus taking up the cross after He had been beaten, spat upon, and His clothes ripped off of Him.  I myself have a tendency to curl up in a ball and feel sorry for myself when I am hurt.  That, my friend, is not denying myself.  When I am hurt, when people say things that harm me, I need to look to Jesus and do as He did, He picked up the cross and He carried it.  He carried it until He could physically not carry it anymore and then someone was appointed to carry it for Him.  What a beautiful picture of how we need to respond to the trials of this life.  When life deals us an unfair hand we need to deny ourselves, focus on Him and follow Him.  When we do that daily, it becomes who we are.  We no longer focus on ourselves but we daily focus on Him.

Back to the campfire, “Though none go with me, still I will follow; though none go with me, still I will follow; though none go with me, still I will follow; not turning back, no turning back.”  Think about it, if we deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him, do you think none will go with us.  I have to think that if we live life the way God would have us live, others will begin to follow too. 

As you seek Him, may you realize that when you truly deny yourself, you empty a place within that is filled with the  One who is more powerful.  This is the place where man cannot harm you but rather a place where the Holy Spirit can satisfy you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Not My Will

Matthew 16:21-23

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:%2021%20-%2023&version=NIV1984)

I had never really thought about these verses the way that I have today.  I see Jesus in a different light in these scriptures.  Before when I read it my focus was on how He rebuked Peter but now as I read it my focus is on Jesus. Let’s take a closer look.

First of all Jesus has just told his disciples how He is going to suffer at the hands of the leaders and that He is going to be killed.  He even mentioned how He was going to be raised on the third day but no one seemed to hear that.

Peter most definitely only heard the part of suffering and he loved Jesus so much that he didn’t want to even think of such a thing happening and insisted that it would not happen.  After all, Peter recognized that He was the Christ and knew of the power He possessed.  Surely this will not happen to our Lord.  Peter’s focus was not on the end result, the raising of Jesus from the dead, but was on the path leading to that.  Have you ever been there,  in Peter’s shoes? 

Jesus response takes me back to the desert where Jesus was tempted by satan.  Those words that were being spoken by Peter were maybe even words that Jesus was trying to get out of His own mind.  No one wants to even think about suffering let alone suffer.  Christ knew exactly what would take place, remember in the place called Gethsemane when He was praying just prior to Him being arrested?  Let’s read those scriptures: 

Matthew 26: 36 – 39
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 ³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

 ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:%2036%20-%2039&version=NIV1984)

 Jesus did not want to have to suffer any more than we want to suffer.  But Jesus knew what needed to be done and He was willing to do it.  When I put this into the perspective of this world I have to think of Peter as the world.  We hear all the time how we deserve this or that.  “We have earned the right”. “We have paid our dues”.  Is that not what Peter was telling Jesus?  “You don’t deserve to suffer, it will never happen”.  We see how Jesus responded to Peter’s comments, he rebuked him.  That is what we as Christians need to do when the world tells us that we deserve more than we are getting.  When we think that we are good enough, we have gone above and beyond and that only good should come to us, we need to rebuke satan.  Jesus did not want to have to go through what He knew He was going to happen yet He was willing to do the will of the Father.  When we get in situations that we don’t like we cry to Him because we don’t want to be there but how often do we say, “Not as I will but as you will” to our Father in Heaven.  Just think, we don’t know the extent of our suffering but Jesus knew full well what would happen and He still prayed that the Father’s will be done.  Remember this world has nothing to offer but Jesus has everything to offer to those who believe in Him and are willing to follow Him.  In the next passage Jesus tells His disciples the cost of following Him.  We will look at that in the next blog.

 As you serve Him, remember that He is in control of our circumstances, He has a plan and we need to just seek Him and find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Who Do You Say He Is?

Matthew 16:13-20

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ the Son of the living God.”   ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:%2013%20-%2020&version=NIV1984)

There are many ideas out there about who Christ is just as there were in the days that He walked on this earth.  There was no doubt during His day that many believed He was a man of God but few recognized the He was the Son of God.  They saw Him as one of the prophets of old or as one they had encountered in John the Baptist.  But He was and is so much more than any of them and Peter proclaimed it to Jesus.  I think it is interesting to note that all of the disciples were quick to give an answer when He asked who the people said that He was but Peter was the first to proclaim that He was the Christ.  Have you ever been to a Bible study or a Sunday school class when a question was asked that involved something that wasn’t real personal, maybe it dealt with others or maybe it was just something pretty easy to find in the scriptures and everyone had an answer but when the question was turned to a personal one everyone was silent?  I think that is how it might have been in this situation but evidently Peter didn’t have to think about the question because it had already been revealed to him and he had an answer. 

Take special not at what Jesus said to him.  He tells him that he is blessed.  He also told him that His Father had revealed this to him, not man.  Because of this revelation, because of his belief Christ’s Church would grow.  Peter would be saved from Hell, he would never have to pass through those gates.  What Peter did on this earth mattered on earth and in Heaven.  Now, take a minute and put your name in where Peter’s is, that is if you know that Christ is the son of the living God.  If you, like Peter can stand and say, “you are the Christ, the son of the living God” you too can be blessed, you too can be saved from the gates of Hell, you too can make a difference on this earth as well as in Heaven.  However, if you are too busy listening to who others say that Christ is the opposite is true.  Including, nothing that you do on this earth will matter in Heaven. 

I was blessed to have Christ revealed to me by my Heavenly Father many years ago as a child.  I am still learning and growing in what that actually means just as Peter grew in his faith.

Thank you Father for revealing to me your Son who I confess as the Son of the living God.  I ask you Father to reveal your Son to any readers who have not fully known or understood the power of Jesus, who have not recognized that He is your beloved Son.  I ask that they may know that He is more than a prophet but that He is Lord, the only way to you Father.  Praise be to You, God, for all that you are.  In the precious and holy name of Jesus, the Son of the living God I pray. Amen.

Teachers – True or False?

Matthew 16:5-12

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

⁵ When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶ “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

⁷ They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? ⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹¹ How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:5%20-%2012&version=NIV1984)

First of all, I am amazed that the disciples were so concerned about bread when Jesus had just performed two miracles where He had multiplied the bread.  What is even more amazing is that they thought that is what Jesus was concerned about.  How many of us are the same way?  Just like the disciples we talk amongst ourselves and try to figure it out.  Doing so, sets us up to fall into the same trap as many of the people of Jesus time who blindly followed what the leaders said because they were the leaders.

There are many scriptures in the Word of God that tells us that we should listen to our leaders, submit to our leaders . . . yet Jesus is telling His disciples to watch out for the leaders of their day.  Should we too be alert to what our leaders are telling us?  I say a resounding, “yes”!  My dad taught me to be on guard for false teachers and leaders as does the Word of God.  This is just one place that Jesus warns against the teachings of the pharisees and sadducees.  In Mathew 7:15 and Matthew 24:11 Jesus warns us against false prophets. He even says they will perform great signs. Then in I Timothy 1:3 – 7 Paul warns Timothy against men who want to be teachers of the law but they don’t know what they are talking about. 

Just this week I heard about a man that took millions of dollars from people claiming to be a believer and telling them that their money would help others.  Many people gave up their life savings because they believed that this man was telling them the truth.  He had been endorsed by mega church leaders and people blindly followed him.  What do we do to avoid this type of thing from happening?  How do we know when we are in contact with the growing yeast that feeds lies and that is unhealthy?   Many times these false teachers and prophets will say just enough truth to suck you into their way of thinking.  They will demand that you bow to their every wish and whim, that you respect them because of their position, yet they will live the life they want to live which may be contrary to the Word (maybe even contrary to what they teach) these are red flags.  But to truly be protected from them we need to seek Him with all our hearts. We need to be into the word of God and we need to not only listen to that Word and be doers of the Word.  Ask the Lord today for wisdom and a discerning heart and as you encounter those who claim to be teachers of the Word.

Seek Him, find Him, and do it with all your heart.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila  

Repentance

Matthew 16:1-4

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 ¹ The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

 ² He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ ³ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:1%20-4&version=NIV1984)

How many of us have asked Jesus for a sign?  I know I have.  Even today as I continue to wonder what He has in store for me, I ask for a sign, so that I will know His will for me.  I think what makes this different from the pharisees and sadducees is the fact that they were specifically “testing” Jesus.  They weren’t trying to figure out how they could serve Him better, they were trying to decide if they should acknowledge Him at all.  I have to think of the story I have heard about the philosophy professor whose main goal in his classes was to prove that there was not a God.  You can read about in at the following link, http://www.snopes.com/religion/chalk.asp.  The pharisees and the sadducees both were trying to test Jesus power.  You would have thought they could have seen His power through the many miracles He performed but their eyes were blinded.

I found it rather interesting when Jesus said the only sign they would get was the sign of Jonah.  As I thought about this three different signs came to my mind.

1.       Jonah ran from God but God knew where he was and caused a great storm.  Have you ever had a great storm appear when you were running from God?

2.      Jonah was in the belly of the big fish for 3 days.  Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days.

3.      People, including Jonah, repented and lives were changed.

In Jonah’s prayer to the Lord in Jonah 2:8 he prayed, ⁸ “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jonah%202:8&version=NIV1984)

Jonah repented and recognized who his God was.  Jonah didn’t just say he was sorry but he did what he was called to do.  He didn’t much like what he had to do but he shared the grace of God with those he didn’t think deserved it and they repented.  When the people of Ninevah repented God’s graciousness was on them as well.  When Jonah pouted, calamity struck again with the withering of the vine. 

Recently I read a quote from a dear friend and pastor Chris Robeson, “When we talk more about forgiveness than repentance, and happiness more than brokenness & holiness we've cheapened the gospel.”  I strongly agree with this statement.  When Jonah focused on the forgiveness he failed to see and appreciate the repentant hearts of the people of Ninevah.  When we focus more on what God can do for us and not so much on what we should be doing for God, we cheapen God, the One and Only One who deserves the honor and glory from all of us.  Without Him we wouldn’t even be here today!

As you seek Him may you find Him through repentance and an accepting heart. 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila