Over the last few months, especially, it has filled me with fear to miss any that He has put before me and, I'm not sure if this is just me, but the fear of missing any of His signs, worse than that, and not following them if I do see them!!
We pray all the time... Lord show me a sign, show me what you want me to do in this situation.. There is nothing wrong with that at all.. After all we seek to see Him and follow Him and do His works which is why we were put on this earth for. Sometimes we will ignore what He tells us and ask for more signs to "clarify" what we think He has shown us even if it is clear as day...
I was at school of preachers at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Wolverhampton last weekend and we were split into groups to read a selected passage of Scripture as a small group, see what the message is, discuss and find a basis for a sermon.. the small group I was in was given Mark 8:1-13 which is widely known as the feeding of the multitudes, but don't get me wrong it is a great passage and a real miracle but something struck me and has stayed with me over the last few days.. This is "Missing/Ignoring Signs"...
We were given 15 mins on our own to pray, read and make notes before discussing in our small group. I could not get past verses 11-13 and how it spoke volumes to me!
11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
The Pharisees would have heard alot of "Jesus" and the teaching and miracles he was performing throughout his ministry so far which is why thy approached him and started asking questions.. I do believe that they were trying to "trip him up", discredit him or how ever you want to put it.
This passage spoke volumes to me on just one verse... Verse 12... First of all He "Sighed DEEPLY".. to sigh like this would have been a huge thing and really a disappointment to Jesus. Imagine the thoughts going through his head.. "here we go again... do they not see .. why cant they just believe... they were asking for signs when they pray in the temples and yet.. HELLO can you not see??...Don't you get it lads?? Come on... is this not a big enough neon sign?... and you could go on..
Then you get to the 2nd half of that passage... "There shall be no sign given unto this generation"... What .. no more signs?? Is this saying that if we miss or ignore the signs from God He will just leave us where we are in life and wait until we do what he says before he moves us onto other things to build His Kingdom?? Jesus just didn't argue or try to persuade them .. He got back in the boat and went off!!.. Are you standing there watching Jesus get back in the boat in your life? If I saw Jesus getting back in the boat after I had seen the signs and not taken them into my life I would be distraught and so upset....
I said it earlier in this... It fills me with fear.. yes fear..
Some of the signs God gives us do appear so wacky, so large and so unachievable but this is where "Belief, Trust, Faith and Love" come into the picture... It was mentioned on Saturday at the school of preachers that Following Jesus comes with a huge price... My thought on this was.. Yes it does totally and I found myself asking the question in my heart.. "Am I willing to pay that price"... Yes..
Over the last few months God has spoken to my wife and I and yes it is a huge thing and yes it does come with a "price". I wont go too deeply into this as we are in our season of preparation, but it did reaffirm things to me that we cant ignore what God is telling us to do and what we are to do in this life...
We were created by Him to spread the Message, the Gospel or however you wish to put it.. NOT for our own pleasure or to build up our own little nests of security. Our security is in God and God alone!
Are we being like the Pharisees when we constantly asking for signs from God on what to do? Are we being like them when we ignore it because it does not sit well with what WE feel is right? Are we asking for more signs to back it up as it seems to much of a risk? Do we really have Faith and Trust in God in our lives??
After all in Scripture Jesus says.... Go out into the world and proclaim the Good News....
Remember.... Gods Time .... NOT yours!!
I leave you with one question....
Are you holding back on following the sign that God has given you?
Peace and blessings to you all...
