Prove It!
Posted in Daily Focus on Sunday, January 5, 2014
Finding all the necessary documentation for my daughter's admission to college was a nightmare. Not only did we need two forms of identification, proof of health insurance, long-lost medical immunization records, and GED and ACT scores, but now we also needed an official high school transcript. Thankfully, I had saved her grades during the past four years and had prepared a transcript in the event we needed it. Sorting through my files on the computer to find the transcript, I shook my head and thought, "Why do I still need to prove my daughter's high school grades when she received such great ACT scores?"
God is also no stranger to providing proofs to an unbelieving world. Some people wrestle with believing God exists, even though creation has shown He does exist (Romans 1:19-20). Others, like the people in Christ's day, refuse to believe unless they see the proof of "signs and wonders" (Matthew 12:38-39 and John 4:48). Then, there are those who think they no longer need any proof of God at all because they have simply declared, "God is dead."
However, unbelievers are not the only people who foolishly place a burden of proof on the Lord. Sometimes, we Christians demand proof, too. Our fragile faith also causes us to ask God for signs and wonders before we step out and do what He clearly commands in the Scriptures. Repeatedly, we miss the blessings of being used because we are still waiting for some additional sign from God. God must shake His head in heaven and think, "I've given them the truth of my Holy Word, the example of my Son, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What other proof do they need to obey me?"
Have you been asking the Lord for more proof before you serve Him (Deuteronomy 6:16)? Dear child of God, the burden of proof doesn't lie with God — it lies with you. God uses those who are willing to believe and obey Him. Won't you prove you are not only a hearer of the Word, but also a doer? "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22).
Lord, forgive me for doubting Your provision to do all that You ask. Increase my faith and help me to follow You each day in the truths You teach through Your Word. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments(6 comments)
ELISHA H 01/05/2010 07:56:07
God is good!!!
MANDI H 01/05/2011 06:10:11
Amen Elisha, God is so good. What a convicting devotion! How many times has God proved himself to us and yet we fail so often to prove our selves to him! I heard a message just the other day about committments to God. How often do we fail to make or follow through on committments to him? Maybe just a committment to spend more time in prayer or to spend more time in his word. The writter said "I die daily". Sometimes I wonder if my children are thankful because they dont always act thankful(parents u know what im talking about) I thank God for being so faithful even ! I pray that I can draw closer to him and prove to him how thankful I am.
NIKI R 01/05/2012 03:33:09
I was just laying in bed asking my Lord to remind me as to why, of all the other homeschooling families in my country (where homeschooling is not widely accepted or even acknowledged) He would lead my family alone( it seems) to take the decision to home school all the way through high school when all of the other homeschoolers thatt i know send their kids back into the system after elementary school.. I was just asking Him, like Gideon for a sign. Guess the joke"s on me..... I sure did get one. Thanks ladies!
DEBRA C 01/05/2012 06:36:28
Thumbing through emails and ways struck with the this word! While we are waiting on God, He is waiting on us, and we all know that he has nothing but time!
Debra C
SUZANNE B 01/05/2012 21:30:21
Thank you so much for your encouraging words. God is so good and His mercy is great!
Jennifer Rosenberger 01/06/2014 14:36:11
Your devotional seems to aim to convict people of G-d's Truth not mans truth, and when I read them I think you may be missing the mark. Truth is Jeremiah 10:2-4 describes how the pagans cut down a tree from the forest and deck it with silver and gold and fasten it to the ground so it doesn't move; clearly a christmas reference and a warning to those who will hear. We should not be attaching our Savior Jesus Christ with any pagan traditions (those traditions being christmas and easter) something you have written about just recently in Arise, O Sleeper; I hope you yourself will be willing to hear these words that often cause people to start defending the worldly traditions that our parents and grandparents have taught us honor Christ, even though they are not in line with the scriptures. Truth is Leviticus 23 instructs us what G-d wants us to celebrate. I take no joy in telling you this because inevitably people will start to defend bad doctrine by claiming Paul said, and we are under grace not the law and all other kinds of defense for man-made traditions and customs. Come out of this world brothers and sisters start proclaiming G-d's Law is good start, following his perfect example Yeshua who ate kosher and observed G-d's times. Shalom