It’s funny, this business called trust. We have no trouble trusting strangers, yet family and friends may have to earn the right. But what if the tables are turned, or if the person in question is Jesus? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Matthew 16:1 NIV
[1] The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.
Testing God
Which is it – can we test God or not? I’m sure that I’ve read that we ought not test God. Yet, there’s the invite to try and prove God by bringing tithes into the storehouse. Maybe it’s about one’s motives, as in, why we’re testing God. The Pharisees and some other sects of the day were convinced that Y’shua was a charlatan. Thus, their tests were frequent, public, and (in my estimation) far-fetched.
In this instance, they demanded that Jesus prove Himself with a sign from Heaven. Was it that they needed a dazzling display of God’s glory, or were they seeking ‘beyond the shadow of the doubt’ type of evidence? For certain, whatever their overarching motive, they made their quest public.
Self-Check
What do we believe about Christ, and do we ever have doubts about His capacity to do and be?
Application
Before vilifying the Pharisees and Sadduces, let’s bear in mind the fact that the Jews had scarcely survived the Excile before finding themselves under Roman rule. Yes, a century or so had passed, but the people were recovering from an identity crisis. As Jews, this also meant a crisis of faith – remember Palm 137, ‘How do we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?’. It was where they still were spiritually.
In grappling with the two traumas, there was an underlying effort to remain spiritually pure. This included ensuring that everyone obeyed every single commandment to the letter, a way of life that soon became ritualistic, rather than worship.
Siblings, it seems to me, therefore, that we ought to guard against traumatic spiritualism that precludes a genuine relationship with Jesus our Christ. That may manifest as having a form of godliness but denying Y’shua’s true capacity to save us. If that is the case, then let’s ask ourselves why. Could we be harbouring trauma from what we feel is unanswered prayer? Or are we not wholly souled out about Y’shua’s divinity?
If it’s about trauma, then we might need counselling and perhaps check whether we need to forgive God. Yes, you read it right. We might be harbouring grudges against God, for failing to ‘come through’ in a particular situation, and are unable to move past our sense of God’s betrayal. If that’s the case, then we need to ‘forgive’ God. On the other hand, if it’s about our not being wholly souled out to God, then we must ask ourselves why.
Siblings, we are living in spiritually serious times. I would argue that we’re in the End Times. How far in – I can’t say. But if my hypothesis is correct, then that which needs testing isn’t God. Rather, it’s the things that present as truth, as right, or as righteousness.
We can learn about God from Scripture and, in turn, by accepting the lordship of Y’shua in our lives. Having established that relationship, we have access … to ask questions and allow God to reveal God’s self through God’s Spirit. By meeting with like-minded persons, there is scope to know God more. If at that point we still need to put God to the test, let’s ask ourselves why, then invite God’s Spirit to convict us.
Prayer
Lord, please deepen our relationship with You in this season. We need You to cope and we need to know You’re with us. Help us to be watchful in prayer, align us with others who can strengthen our faith, and revive us so that we’re sure of You and who we are in You. Amen
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May all we seek be found in Christ
