What strikes me today isn't a particular verse. Its just a sense of how quickly things changed. Jesus went from being hailed as the King (which is how he should have been treated) to being questioned and ultimately killed. In the immortal words of Anchorman, "that really escalated quickly."
In his royal entrance to the city, Jesus was being treated as an earthly king. In thinking about that....I can't help but think even that wasn't nearly enough. We are talking about the Son of God! The "most high". The Savior of all mankind. What kind of a reception should he get?
Then to step into application for a second. If all of those words that I just wrote, are true......how do I treat him? Do I give him his just due? Do I give him the reverence and awe inspired wonder that he so richly deserves? Or do I spend more time questioning his authority? Its a concept for me to spend some serious time thinking about. If I believe what I say I believe....then.......having said that, I know I can't give him what he deserves. That's the grace he gives me if my heart is in him and visa versa.
tp
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
ReplyDeleteThis is a verse I struggled with in the past and I am reminded of it today. As I sit in church I look across the way at a long time friend of ours sitting alone--her husband at home today. This is one of the most faithful families I have ever known. They have been on a journey this past couple years as her husband has cancer. The week before cancer he was told he was cancer free, now a couple weeks ago it has returned and it is terminal. I know they along with many at our church have prayed for healing. I did the same for my dad. I looked at verses like this and said to myself its not true, I prayed for healing and believed and yet he died. Now they face the same fate.
One view is that the verse is true and I simply lacked faith, pretty plausible if I am honest. But this family has a faith far more mature than mine, if they cannot pray for healing and receive it I struggle to see who could have enough faith. Bad things happen to good people and that I think is just the price of the sinful world we live in.
this is another area I won't fully grasp while on this earth.
knut