Signs

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed,” Matthew 16:1-4, KJV.

We must be mindful of the motives behind the Pharisees and Sadducees as they approached Jesus. Notice the word tempting; this is a tactic of the enemy as their motives were not pure. They sought to trap Him by disproving Jesus’ ability. It wasn’t because they hadn’t already seen or heard of the miracles he had performed. “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan,” Matthew 4:23-25, KJV. By this time, Jesus had already been traveling throughout the country so they were well aware of the previous miracles he had performed in addition to John the Baptist speaking on the Savior’s behalf.

It’s amazing how the appearance of the sky is so predictable of the weather, yet the signs of the times lack understanding. “But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart,” 2 Corinthians 3:14-15, KJV. Some people don’t receive because of the hardness of their hearts, and some may never receive as they are drawn away by their own lusts.

As Christians, we are to be Christ-like. We are to seek after Him and not after signs, for in His word He says, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” Jesus does not say this to be mean; he says this out of honesty for we have all of the signs that we need. We have His word and His life’s story. So, we should not seek after additional signs as the sign have already been given to us. We are not to argue with non-believers, we are to share the Gospel. It is not our job to force them into receiving the Word, for God has given us free will to choose. Notice what Jesus did when He had finished speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “And he left them, and departed.”

The Word

“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour,” John 12: 25-26, KJV.

As I was drawn out of my sleep this morning, I felt this song in my spirit, Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior. It was again another touch from the Lord that prompted me to praise Him. We need Him at every moment of our lives. When I receive touches like this from God, it reminds me how much God loves me. It reminds me of how much He cares for me. It is a constant reminder of His existence and how much He helps us on our journey, supplying our every need.

Often when we get in the dark pits of life, it’s hard to see the light, but God sends a word to us in some shape or form. We must have ears to hear. When that song came upon me, I wasn’t familiar with all of the words, but I did know the chorus. And then I thought that maybe God wanted me to sing it to Him. So, I found the words a little later and sung it….making a joyful noise as I am not a singer, but remembering again that praise and worship are sung unto God.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him,” Psalm 34:8, KJV. It also speaks volumes as to how much I love the Lord and my need for Him. Life here on Earth is short, but to receive eternal life in Christ gives much hope and satisfaction that it gets even better. And I’m not going to let anyone keep me from receiving my eternal crown of life.

“Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak,” John 12: 44-50, KJV.

Many profess to believe that Christ is an authoritative figure, yet deny His deity. Others believe His deity, yet reject His word. It is clearly stated that Jesus came to save those that are lost, but if He is rejected the word will judge them; for Jesus has not spoken of Himself, but of the Father who sent Him, giving Him a commandment of what to say and what He should speak. So, when we spread the Word of Jesus, we are sharing the Word of God and it is not us, the messengers, who judge, but the very Word itself.

His Will Be Done

It can be a tedious task, more like a burden to carry around things from the past. It’s even more tiresome when they are things in which we have no control over. Sometimes we can be our worst enemy by refusing or putting off those things which we know we should be doing. One thing about God that I find so powerful is that either we’ll do what He tells us to do now or we’ll have to do it later….but we will have to do it. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it,” Isaiah 55:11, KJV.

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured. I understand that many are born with defects and some face extraordinary challenges, yet in everything we must praise the Lord. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience,” James 1:2-3, KJV. We’ve all heard the catch phrase, “Everything happens for a reason,” and I do believe that is true. What many of us fail to ponder further is what that reasoning is. Many assume that it’s because God wants it to happen or that it’s all God’s doing when we go through trials. But can we take responsibility for our own actions?

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning,” James 1:13-17, KJV.

God will not tempt us, although He may allow certain things to happen. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy,” 1 Peter 4:11-13, KJV.

Yes, there are instances in the Old Testament when God sent plagues onto people, but that was for those practicing in disobedience. So, when we go through we must ask ourselves, “Am I doing what the Lord told me to do?”

Additional Reference: Revelation 2:9-10