Saturday, August 12, 2017

Today's Passage - Matthew 11:1-6

Matthew 11: 1-6
 
...When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.
 
John the Baptist is a prophet and a pioneer for Jesus in the wilderness. He prophesied on Jesus' ministry that "after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." When Jesus went to John the Baptist to be baptized, the Spirit of God revealed to John that Jesus is Messiah. When the Lord was baptized, John the Baptist saw that heaven was opened and the Spirit of God descending like a dove on Him. He knew very well who Jesus is, but he became doubtful as God did not rescue him from all the persecutions and trials that he was facing. Therefore he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" Likewise, many times we become doubtful of God as we face trials and enemy's attacks. Jesus did not answer that question with a simple "yes" or "no". Instead he told the disciples, ""Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." In other words, Jesus was telling John the Baptist, "I am still seated on the throne!" Although John was in prison facing many trials, but the Lord still reign, signs and wonders are still happening. Maybe in the same manner God did not rescue you, but He has a higher will, a higher way.
 
In verse 6 the Lord reminds us that, "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me." Many times we stumble when God did not respond to our needs according to our hope. Brothers and sisters, have you experienced in your prayer that God did not answer your prayer according to how you would like your prayer to be answered? When this happens, God is also testing us to see if we will stumble. May the Lord open our eyes, so we may see that he is seated on the throne. The fact that we are suffering does not mean that God is not in control. In reality the Lord still reign from His throne, and we need to submit ourselves into His working hands, and fix our eyes on Him, believing that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways is higher than our ways. When the time is right, He will open a way for us.
 
Pray with Pastor Tong
 
Dear Lord, we pray that you would rescue us from our difficult situations as we fix our eyes on you. But in the meanwhile, open our eyes so that we may know your heart, and understand that you are seated on the throne regardless of the outcome of our prayers. I thank you and pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!
      
  

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