November 20 "I Don't Believe You"

2 Kings 7:10-12 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, "We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were." 11 Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's household. 12 And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, "I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, 'When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.'"

DOES the king's reaction sound familiar? Perhaps based on yesterday's teaching, you were encouraged to speak to someone of Jesus. Then they said something like this, "Are you kidding me? That's ridiculous. The Bible is too restrictive. I'll choose my own way to Heaven."

    That's essentially King Joram's response to the lepers' good news. He thinks it's a trap. He has ignored the words from God's Prophet Elisha that God would deliver Samaria from the deadly siege. Elisha had even said it would happen on this day Joram heard the lepers' good news. But when he hears the leper's report, Joram's response is essentially, "That's ridiculous. It's a trap. I'll decide what we need to do to overcome Syria."

    Yes, the gospel message is good news, too good to be true. Can it be that Jesus saves? Can it be salvation is from God's grace gift of faith to us? Many like Joram will deny God's grace to save. They will point to Christianity as a crutch, a trap to imprison them and keep them from enjoying sensual pleasures. Surely they can live anyway they want. Heaven is for everyone!

    But we must be firm to hold to the truth. Stand on Jesus' enormous love. Be steadfast in such teachings of our faith as Romans 5:7-8 "For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  

    God has done something we don't deserve. Accept, then, in his love. Acknowledge his grace. Trust in his work. Receive his truth. Confess, "I believe!" and be prepared for the blessings he has prepared for you.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, when I tell the good news, "Jesus saves!" move hearts to receive the blessings of the Father's salvation. In Jesus' name, amen.