What Would It Take?

I have been reading the book "He Speaks To Me" by Priscilla Shirer. My sister sent me the book and I am really enjoying it. I don't have a lot of time to actually sit down and read so I carry the book with me and I read it as I walk to and from my truck at work. And, yes, the walk IS that long! Today as I was walking and reading the chapter was about having child like faith but that isn't what really caught my attention. What grabbed me was a statement she made about how the disciples had witnessed Jesus' miracles. They saw him feed over 5,000 people with just two fish and five loaves of bread. They had seen him walk on water. They had seen him heal the sick. Give sight to the blind. Bring Lazarus from the dead! Can you imagine what those three years were like for them?

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Yet, they bickered amongst themselves wanting to know who was the best disciple. Peter betrayed Jesus not once but three times. Judas sold him out. James and John wanted to be the "head" so bad that they had their momma go to Jesus for them. Can you imagine? They sent their momma to talk to Jesus about their "seating arrangements."

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As I walked into the building I sort of chuckled to myself. Here we are over 2,000 years later and we are still doing the same thing. We all want to know who is going to be the best one in heaven. We tend to work wanting to make sure that others notice what we are doing. We all tell the same Bible stories over and over and over again but yet we really don't believe them. No, we never actually witnessed Jesus walking on water but goodness gracious we have all heard that story so many times that it is embedded into our memory and yet we still question it. Maybe not question it in public but if you're honest with yourself, when you're alone, when times get tough...you question it. You question him! Or, when the crowd gets thick, you feel a little heat from friends or co-workers...do you deny him like Peter did?

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I'm just thinking...what would it take? What would God have to do to make us truly believe that he loves us? I mean he sent his son to us but yet we questioned that he was who he said he was. He tried to teach us everything we needed to know yet we mocked him and didn't believe him. He was beaten and murdered but we didn't believe he would rise again. And, when he did rise again we tried to explain how he wasn't really dead. No matter what God has done for us, put in front of our rotten spoiled faces we still seem to question his love. We still don't accept what he has to offer us. I wonder why?

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We were created in God's image yet he inserted in each and every one of us the ability to choose for ourselves. I wonder why he did that? Maybe because he likes/wants to feel loved and needed! How many times as parents do we long for our children to just like us...want us...need us? The older they get the more we feel this way. What makes us think God is any different? Just makes me think...what would it take? What else could he do? Why do we even think there is anything else he could/should do?

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"Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer. How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies? You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him. Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the Lord. Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." Psalm 4. (NLT)