Thursday 14 Sep 2017

September 14: Matthew 16:1-4

Key Verse: Matthew 16:4
“A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

Devotion:
So often we rely on sayings and on folk law to rule our lives. Whilst there is scientific truth behind the reasoning for red sky in the morning and night and the weather the following day, we should not rely on that 100%. Yet we do choose to do exactly that much of the time. We have come to accept many such things in our lives and the say-so of others. They have passed them down from generation to generation. Because it has been done this way, we assume that there is truth in it otherwise they would not have told us so.

We choose to believe scientists when they tell us of the safety of new medicines even though they have not been around long enough to test for long term effects. Most of the time they are correct and so we learn to depend on them. Weather prediction centres tell us of the weather which is coming up. We love to remind ourselves of how bad they are, but they do get it right most of the time; so we depend on them. But in each case, we may well choose to believe someone different to our neighbour because we may think we have found error in the others. Each of us choose what we are going to believe because it makes us feel better about what they are predicting.

But what of the truth? What of the proven truth? What of the predictions which have been proven 100%? The bible records so many predictions from the beginning of time and how they have come to pass. It also lists other predictions which are yet to happen. So far it has a 100% track record... and yet, because people do not like what they hear in it, they do not want to believe it! Why should we believe in something which is a warning that will spoil the way we live? How about “because it is the truth”?

Points to Ponder:
How many times do you have to get warned before you believe something?

How many times does God have to warn us before we believe?