I didn’t have the advantage of growing up in church so I didn’t really know about Jesus and the Bible. I was largely ignorant of the gospel. But, I was never hostile toward religion, in fact I was quite curious. There are some today who are inwardly and outwardly opposed to Jesus and Christianity. Its very strange to me because I have seen the good (healing, forgiveness, compassionate care, feeding the hungry, etc.) in the world that has come from the followers of Jesus. So, when someone says Christians are evil- I see the same confusion that happened when Jesus performed miracles in His day. Blinded by their own jealousy and pride, people still reject the Savior who loves them. That was the problem with the Pharisees. The people saw Jesus and wondered if He was the Messiah. The Pharisees saw Jesus as a threat to their social standing.
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Jesus, and He healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and could see. And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” Matthew 12:22-24 NASB
Am I aware of all the good happening in the world? Do I give God credit for the good that comes from my life?
God, as this day begins- I know that in this life, all of us will encounter pain and problems that You desire to heal and solve. May I be one who recognizes Your work in the world, engage in it personally, and give You the credit so others might seek You and find You. Amen.
