In preparing for next weekend's message, I've been meditating in John's gospel around the famous "Palm Sunday" passage in chapter 12.
What most of us tend to do is to simply pull the story out of it's context and see it as a moment of "celebration" that was misunderstood by the Jews of the day and leave it at that.
However, in context there's a profound story there about one final appeal, from Jesus, for people to believe that He is who He said He was!
"Unbelief" or inclination to chose one's own thoughts and preferences over the authority of the Word of God is rampant in today's culture. Unbelief is not just something that non-Christians struggle with, even believers struggle with "unbelief."
When is the last time you found yourself doubting God's Word regarding your health, important relationships, your finances, your future decisions or whatever?
I believe the goal of our faith is to ultimately make us Christ-like. That's why James said it is "more precious than gold." However, it begins with believing God's Word about a situation because Jesus went to the cross to prove that what He said was true, even to have cost Him His life.
I urge you to read all of John 12 and think about the other stories that are involved there and see how it affects your struggle with unbelief. Jesus appeals to us to trust Him, love Him, worship Him, despite what the circumstances say.
This isn't easy, but it is the way to spiritual maturity, a journey to which all of us are called.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
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