WE BELIEVE OR REFUSE TO BELIEVE

The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? —Numbers 14:11

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”  The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”  They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. —Mark 14:62-65

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God… they never call on God. —Psalm 53:1, 4

             It is one thing for those who do not know Jesus to say, “There is no God” and “never call on God,” but for those who profess to know God and act as though they don’t is a sad outcome.  The Lord said—

• How long will these people treat me with contempt/disrespect?
• How long will these people refuse to believe in me?

The Lord had done so many signs among them and still this was their attitude. “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you?“ (Luke 9:41).  Whether in the time of Moses or in the time of Jesus, our Lord God Almighty is so very patient with us.

Jesus had done so many signs that were not possible for any man to do and yet the Jewish leadership, and so many others, refuse to believe in Him.  When asked by the High Priest, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”  Jesus replied, “I am.”   This is not the first time Jesus responded with those words.  In John 8:58 we read, “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”  These are words that reflect back to Moses at the burning bush when the Lord said to Moses, ““I am who I am.”  Mose was to tell the Israelites that “I am has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14).

But how did the Jewish leadership respond to Jesus when He said, “I am?”  TheY condemned Him to death!  They refused to believe.  They professed to know God, but acted like fool— “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God… they never call on God.”  There was Jesus, God in flesh, and they say He is not God.  Instead of calling on Jesus, they refused to believe and were motivated to kill Him.

             Are you and I believing or refusing to believe?  As followers of Jesus, if we truly love Him, we will lovingly obey His Word— Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:21).  Not only that, but will be calling on Him as well as listening to Him.  Are we?  Or… are we living like “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God… they never call on God.”  May it not be so, Dear Father, but may we who profess to know Jesus listen and talk with You often.  Yes, may this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7PRGMQxNcM&list=RDd7PRGMQxNcM&start_radio=1