I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like to live in Jesus’ time—to actually have the opportunity to be in his presence. Although his followers were growing in number, there was still so much disbelief. There were many people who didn’t believe who he was or what he represented. There was doubt, fear, and challenge to his holy authority. So many people wanted a savior, and yet, they didn’t believe they were standing in his presence.

It seems like the human race always needs some clearly defined proof—a checklist of things that must match exactly—for the Messiah to be who he said he was or to prove that the kingdom of God is real and near. Yet we pray: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” We demand that God be the one to prove these things to us.

What if we flip the script? What if we believe? Just have faith and believe? Believe God is real. Believe Christ was the Messiah. Believe the Holy Spirit lives within us. Believe we don’t have to cling to this world to find life, but instead use our lives to follow Jesus. When we have faith, that means we trust the Lord. We will follow what we put our faith and trust in. We don’t really need to know the exact day of the coming of the kingdom. What we need to know is that it will come.

What if we keep our hearts, minds, and souls focused on Jesus? What if we put him first where he belongs? No doubting. No trying to get all we can out of this world, but instead, putting all we can into this world. Keeping our minds and hearts fixed on the truth of Jesus’ love and sharing that with all who we come in contact with. We can live in full-on faith and show the world what that looks like by the way we act, live, and love. That just might be all the proof someone needs.

Reflection:

  • When was a time you felt like you questioned your faith in the Lord?
  • When was a time you wanted answers, in detail, from the Lord? How did you respond when you got the answer or didn’t get the answer?
  • What does the following verse mean to you? “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33).