And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11:41b-42.
No doubt in Jesus, He was 100% in faith and in communication with His Father. Most of us fall a bit short of that. We might hit 99% on a good day, but there are those doubts that flap around our heads like little vampire bats. We rather like to have an acknowledgement from the other end of our prayer, but we don't always get it, and a doubt settles in for a quick 'bite o' the vampyre'.
God desires that all believe in Him and in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Doubts about the Lord, His providence, protection, and salvation are all rooted in moments of unbelief. Those vampire bats of doubt are sucking away at our faith as we entertain that short moment of unbelief. Adam and Eve failed to believe the Lord for just a moment and believed the Serpent instead; sin blew up in God's creation and death followed. Which, was just what the Lord said would happen had that first man and woman just believed Him. What a price Jesus paid for that moment or two of unbelief!
Fortunately for us, the price Jesus paid at Calvary bought for us some armor, including a Helmet of Salvation, good for protecting the mind where the vampire bats of doubt like to settle first. They may be some sneaky bats, but we are also given the Sword of God's Word, and that can cleave a vampire bat of doubt right in twain.
"But, but, I'm no swordsman," the doubter says with trembling lips. No, none of us are at the start, for our rebirth in Christ makes an infant Christ-one and we need His protection. However, in Christ we learn quickly and a few swings with such a powerful weapon can make a professional sword-swinger out of the most doubtful former unbeliever. This is one case where the power is truly in the sword!
Rejoice in the day with Jesus!Bucky
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