Have you ever been stuck
in a PIT of despair - A Personally Intense Trial and it feels like God doesn’t care? Have you ever asked God to take the pain away, and nothing happens, no matter how much you pray? Do you ever feel like God is distant - like He’s too far away to hear what you say? And that your words of prayer are shallow attempts to make everything okay? Well, Matthew Chapter 11 speaks to these thoughts and feelings. Matthew shares a story about John the Baptist who was sitting in a prison waiting to get beheaded, and though Jesus did not save him, He considered him blessed and highly favored. Can you imagine? Not only was he Jesus’s cousin, but John prepared the way for Jesus’s coming. He proclaimed Jesus as Lord, the Most High God, who came in the flesh to save us broken humans. And yet, Jesus didn’t go to save him. Instead, Jesus let John die - as He carried out His mission of building His glorious Church. And all the while, declaring John as blessed! You may be wondering how does that even make any sense? How could a good God let such a bad thing happen? Let’s read. “When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen - the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” Matthew 11:1-6 I found it interesting that John the Baptist was questioning Jesus. He knew that he knew - that Jesus was Lord, and yet, in his despair, he sent his disciples to question Jesus’s authenticity. It reminds me of Paul telling God that he believes, but still asking God to help him with his disbelief. I think this is what happens to many of us, when we are in a trial and questioning whether God is still with us. Jesus responded by bringing up all the miracles, and then He said, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” I think the mentioning of the miracles was to remind John of all that He had done, and the second response was to remind John that He is the chief cornerstone. Jesus reminds John's disciples, and all those that could hear, that He IS the stumbling block - the stone which “the builders rejected" and the “chief cornerstone” upon which His Church is built. And I should note that the builders’ rejection is a reference to Christ’s crucifixion; and the chief cornerstone is a reference to Christ’s resurrection. And all of this was foretold and spoken through Isaiah’s mouth, 700 years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah said, “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation.” Isaiah 28:16 “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me” means you are blessed if you’re not offended by God’s activity, whether he changes your circumstance or not, because He is God no matter what. We must remember that God is always working, for a greater purpose, despite our individual circumstances. “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 John the Baptist would have had to known that he was blessed by God despite being in prison and being beheaded. Just as we have to acknowledge that our circumstances are not a reflection of God’s goodness or anger towards us. As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began telling the people how great John the Baptist is. He even said that John is Elijah, the one promised to come. Jesus wanted everyone to know that John was who He claimed to be, because John’s words and actions prepared the way for Jesus’s ministry. So let us remember that God has a plan that goes above and beyond our individual circumstances. And we can trust Him, even when we are in the PIT. Whosoever believes despite earthly prosperity has a true faith and is a true witness. As long as you believe in Jesus, the Rock of Salvation, the cut stone described by the prophet, Daniel - You can consider yourself blessed and highly favored.
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