I've been having trouble the past few weeks coming up with
inspiration for this blog. What clever topic can I present that will prove to
people that Jesus is God and that the Bible is true. I’ve got to be honest, I
don’t have anything clever to write.
Part of the problem is that I cannot prove to you that Jesus
is God or that the Bible is true. If I convince you of that by proofs, then you
would not need to believe. You have proof, - facts, so no faith is required. I
cannot prove God or His Word to you in that way. He won’t allow it, and I don’t
think it’s possible. If it was possible, then there would be no need for faith.
Last night several of us gathered on a cold Pennsylvania
street corner to give out hot dogs and drinks to people. A crowd of maybe 20
people gathered and we cooked and gave out many hot dogs and drinks. In the
midst of it, I said, “Does anyone want
prayer? We’re here for that reason, can I pray for anyone?”
Silence.
Later, another one of our “hotdog team” said to a man, “How about that hit and run case you told me
about? Can I pray for you for that?” The man refused prayer. I have to
admit, I chuckled at that. A hit and run case?!? And he DOESN’T need prayer for
that? If you’re not praying for that,
then forget about the minor things of life.
Then it struck me. There is no faith here. People simply don’t
believe that prayer works. They don’t believe it has any value.
They wanted the hotdogs but not the prayer.
Jesus said, “when the Son of man comes, will he
find faith on earth?”[1]
Finally one man came forward, holding his bundled up little
6 pound newborn son, Jonathan. “I need prayer,”
he said. I prayed for him, his wife, and his son. I prayed for his son’s future. I prayed for the
man’s father, who I also knew. I asked God to bless their lives. The very thing
God wants to do. There was a little spark of faith on that street corner.
Early in the 20th Century, missionary James Frazer
wrote to the church in England from his missionary post in China: “What I covet more than anything else is
earnest believing prayer, and I write to ask you to continue in prayer for me
and the work here.”
To believe that Jesus is God and that the Bible is true,
takes faith. To pray to God takes faith. May you exercise that faith in this
coming week. You won’t be disappointed.