October 12 Does Jesus Trust Me?

John 2:23-25 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
 
HAVE you ever asked yourself, “Does Jesus trust me?” Why was it that Jesus would not entrust himself to them – those many people (who) saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name? After all, the Jews seemed to faithfully respond to Jesus’ miracles. They were associating “Jesus” with miracles. To the Jews, one’s name was an important means of identifying one’s purpose, personality and work. This seems good.
   Apparently, though, Jesus rejected their response. They were believing in what he was doing but not in who he is. What’s the difference? Think for a moment. What happens if someone says he likes you for what you do? You may be pleased for the moment. But relationships based on doing the “right” thing will last until you do the “wrong” thing. Someone’s name may be favorable to you one day but not the next. Names become a surface-level identification, not an understanding of a person’s character. This is why Jesus did not trust these new “believers”. They were not looking past the miracles to know who Jesus is.
   Is your faith based on who God is, or is it based on what he does? Yes, we celebrate Jesus’ eternal love act on the cross. But we must understand God did this because of who he is. Love is his character. All his works come from his love. I hope we don’t base our relationship with God on, “He is a miracle worker.” If so, what happens when he says, “No.” to your prayers?
   Yet, how many times have we heard people say to God, “If you do this, I’ll believe in you.” If God responds as they desire, they challenge him to do the next miracle. Casual faith waits for God to keep proving himself.  
   To say then, “I trust Jesus as my Lord and Savior.” we must truly know, “Who is God?” Who is he to you? Is he “Lord of my life” “my personal Lord and Savior”? If you have come to that point, he desires for you to step increasingly onto a faith journey to know the power of Jesus’ name. The further we walk with the name of Jesus on our heart, the more we treasure and keep God’s name holy in our mind and on our lips. What he does for our lives becomes not physical or material gain, but we see his work drawing us into an abiding love for God and for one another. When you are faithful to Jesus’ name for who he is, he will entrust others to you. He will open doors for you to minister and care for his own.
   “Jesus” surely is the name that is above all names. His name has transformed sinners to saints. Speak “Jesus” with the full assurance you speak the name of Savior, Lord, Redeemer, Son of Man, Son of God. Live in Jesus’ power. This is who he is.
 
Prayer: Thank you, God, for the miraculous ways you’ve entered your creation to teach me who you are. I pray you trust me to minister the gospel. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.