Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to loose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrwon into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck. Matthew 18:2-6
From time to time, we all will encounter situations that will cause us to stop and doubt whether what we have believed is correct. Last night, I left a gathering of believers wondering this very thing. I spent the whole ride home, looking out my window, praying to God that He would correct or confirm my thinking. Though this scripture had been mentioned briefly and probably unnoticed by many that were there, it was the answer to my doubts.
The discussion went from Judas, to Saul, to the prayer covering mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11. Every time I was able to finally interject something, I was almost completely disregarded. Maybe I wasn’t articulating myself well enough, but it was as if these believers would rather debate the scriptures and their meanings than simply believe. Still troubled, I prayed and opened my bible this morning to Jeremiah 28. I still had the above scripture in my mind and heart.
The section is titled “Jeremiah condemns Hananiah.” Once again I was left wondering what I could write about, but after awhile, I was able to see what the Lord’s answer to my doubts from last night is.
“Amen! May your prophecies come true! I hope the lord does everything you say. I hope he does bring back from Babylon the treasures of this Temple and all our loved ones. But listen now to the solemn words I speak to you in the presence of all these people. The ancient prophets who preceded you and me spoke against many nations, always warning of war, famine, and disease. So a prophet who predicts peace must carry the burden of proof. Only when his predictions come true can it be known that he is really from the Lord.” Jeremiah 28:6-9
“A prophet who predicts peace must carry the burden of proof.” God answered me with this statement in his scripture. The Lord Jesus Himself said that unless we become as little children we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. So, I must have faith as a small child. I must believe simply because I know that is what I am to do. I do not have to carry the burden of proof, the Lord will carry it for me, but others who must tear apart the Word, trying to decipher every little thing until it becomes trite, meaningless and even creating traditions from their human interpretations are the very ones that must prove that they are right. I have decided that I will not enter into those kinds of discussion/debates like the ones we had last night.
I know what my Lord has convicted me of. I prayed for belief as a small child for quite some time when I first became a believer. The Lord answered my prayer and today, that is the kind of faith that I have. I don’t have to understand everything that is in scripture to believe it or to disregard it. I believe that it is in scripture and therefore I will believe. The Lord would have not allowed it to be in His word if it wasn’t true or had some purpose in His ultimate plan. I simply believe.
My husband does not believe this way and therefore it becomes very hard to talk to him spiritually. He is the logical, everything must have an explanation or deeper meaning to it before I’ll believe it. I simply believe that not everything that God does will make sense to me, but it doesn’t have to either. I know that I could learn from my husband and he can learn from me. But one thing is for sure, I do not want to ever loose this faith as a small child. In it, I receive such peace, just knowing my God in this way.
May God provide the increase.
Don’t ever let go of what you know to be truth - of what we have a “thus saith the Lord” for! Your simple profound message last night was “Do you believe the whole Bible is the inspired Word of God?” The answer of course is YES! Therefore we must accept and do everything that Jesus has commanded us to do. There is no question in my mind. The Word of God is truth. God said it. I believe it therefore God holds me accountable for following the truth that I know. Hold fast to truth and continue to strengthen the brethren/sisters! Your doing a good job!!!