Blessed Assurance

Scripture:  Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

In our trials, we feel alone and that the trial will last forever.  Reminded of John the Baptist when he was jailed in Rome,  He sent two of his disciples to Christ to get  encouragement.  On John the Baptist’s behalf, the two disciples asked Jesus, “Are You the Christ, or should we look for another (Matthew 11:2)?  Like us, in a fiery trial, we forget all of who Christ is; and we begin to doubt.  Now, John the Baptist, earlier, was in the honored position of baptizing the Messiah, Jesus the Christ; after which, suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17).  Though John the Baptist had been part of such an awesome scene in that Roman jail, he began to get weary in all of his well-doing.  He required help.  Maybe he, like others, wanted to see Christ overrule the Roman government and take Caesar’s place.  Only thing is, Christ came to seek and to save those who are lost.  He came to redeem man; He came for relationship not to gain political or governmental power.  Christ had no other agendas but to be about His Father’s business.  And how did Christ answer John the Baptist’s cry for help and reassurance?  Jesus answered and said to John’s two disciples, “Go and tell John what you hear and see.  The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them”(Matthew 11:4).  Christ did not want John the Baptist to get it twisted or be discouraged anymore. Christ wanted John to know He was on task. He was pleasing the Father!

Prayer:  Lord, we love Your messages of assurance and reassurance --  how You must pull our reigns and get us to know that it is You who is in control and we are not.  We are not the standard, but You are.  Lord, Your agenda is great and will be fulfilled. for You are God and God alone.  Help us to know that this world is not our home, that Your kingdom has come, and Your will will be done on earth just as it is in Heaven.  We thank You, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen!
(by Lisa Williams)