a sign.

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 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.

Matthew 16:1-4 (emphasis mine)



It isn't very easy to confess that there have been times in my life when you could have replaced "Pharisees and Sadduces" with my name. I come to Jesus. I test him and ask him to show me a sign from heaven.

But that is the truth. I've been there. This isn't a confession, though, because the rest of the truth is that I know I'm not the only one. I've spoken to so many youth who all echo this sentiment: they want Jesus to show that He's real, to show that He loves them, to show them a plan. They want a sign

It's amazing to consider two things in Jesus' answer:

1.) If we take a look at what Jesus says, He is letting us know that there are signs. We live and believe in God by faith, but He doesn't want us to live in ignorance. He provides ways to know the times and seasons we live in. We've just become more adept at interpreting other things. For the Pharisees and Sadduces, Jesus gave the example of the weather. I'd say our generation is great at deciphering trends and fads, things that pass away with the wind.

Jesus calls the generation who stands surrounded by signs, yet asking for a sign, wicked and adulterous.

2.) Jesus leaves.

Here were these people asking for a sign from heaven when Jesus was standing in the midst of them. They became so preoccupied with proof, with trying to discredit Him, that they end up seeing nothing but the back of the Messiah, turned to them and walking away.

When Jesus is close enough to ask something of, why would we waste our time asking for a sign? He is the greatest sign there is: the sign of love so big it died for us, a sign of hope, a sign of an eternity nearer than we think, a sign of power, grace, justice, healing, salvation, deliverance, and redemption.

We are surrounded by the signs of an almighty and living God. Let's learn to listen when God speaks, to see His face when it is turned to us, so that we never have to see Him walking away.  



introductions.

The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.

- Job 1:8 NASB

How would God introduce you?

This is My servant... she's lukewarm at best.

This is My servant... he claims to love me, but never does what I say.

This is My servant... she much prefers the things of the world.

This is My servant... he's bored with me.

It strikes me how God considered his servant Job, the tender words He spoke about him and the confidence He placed in him. If only God had that confidence in us all- the confidence that no matter what would happen to us, it wouldn't change the way we feel about Him. It wouldn't change our devotion.

Consider your life in the eyes of our Father.

What would He have to say about you?

In Faith.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

- Isaiah 55:10-11 (NASB)

I've had this word stirring in my spirit since our pastor, inspired by the Lord, declared 2012 the year where, "in faith and obedience, we will be His special treasure."

It's a simple word but one that I, more than ever, believe to be true:

it is time that the youth graduate from believing in God to believing God.

To say that you believe in God is to say that you believe in the idea of Him. That you believe He exists, and that's good! God calls us to believe in Him and in His Son who died for our sins. But. What good is a belief in God if we're just going to ignore what He says?

That is all to say, it's time we move from simply having a knowledge that He exists, to living in a state where we know that everything He says is true; where we act on the Word because our faith is one that believes so fully, it requires action. We do what He says because we believe Him. 

Yes, investing all of your faith is hard. It can be scary to trust that much. Thankfully, "God is not a man that He should lie, or a son of man that He should repent." Thankfully, the plans God has for us are good, "plans to prosper and not to harm [us]." Thankfully, "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Let us stop drowning the great promises God has declared over us in doubt. Believe eveything He has spoken over us, youth. Believe that this is our time and our season. Believe Him.