Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – God offers me what I desperately need but not the evidence I desperately want.
Luke 4:17-22 NLT
[17] The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him (Jesus). He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: [18] “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, [19] and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” [20] He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. [21] Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” [22] Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Observation
It amazes me how often I, we, can hear great news, news we desire to be true, news we desperately need, and yet immediately question – “How can this be? Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Doubt stares at profound truth and looks for reasons to walk away. God does not remove doubt for this would be to take away my freedom of choice. I can’t doubt that the chair I am sitting on is real, so I have no choice about its reality. Jesus leaves doubt present and offers me faith so that I am free to find grounds to reject Him, but I am also free to receive His gift of faith and walk with him.
Humanity desperately needs and cries out for good news, freedom, release, sight, favour, and God arrives with the news that all this is now present in His presence. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” We do not attack the news, we attack the bringer, the validity, the reality. It’s not that we don’t want what God brings, no one rejects God based on what He offers, we doubt and reject Him, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” We speak well of Him but then doubt Him. And again, the grounds for doubt are there, He was Joseph’s son, but faith recognises Joseph’s son as God himself. No proof to absolute support and show that Joseph’s son is God’s son, other than personal experience of His presence.
Faith is not the absence of doubt, it’s walking with Jesus discussing my doubts. It’s receiving as truth that Joseph’s son is Gods son, while asking the question and being perplexed – “but isn’t this Joseph’s son?” The good news that God has released through the son of Joseph is available for anyone who can handle this tension – “How can this be?”
Application
I will live my life in the tension that exists in following God. I will exercise faith and explore my doubts. I will receive His good news while asking ‘How can this be?’ I will not live with God’s promises laid out before me, looking on in doubt, watching my life slip through the days, and never partaking in His provision, His good news. I am too hungry for life to miss the feast, even if I am not sure about all the means through which it has been spread before me. Joseph’s son, the son of God, how can this be, – I am feasting!
Response
Thank you that you do not submit to questioning, your invitation is clear. Thank you that you gift me with the faith I need to walk with you carrying my doubt. Thank you for the good news for life, thank you for freedom, release, sight, favour. Thank you that you have brought revelation into my life that can embrace foolishness to my logic without disqualifying me from experiencing your glory and majesty. I am blessed.
Meditation
“How can this be?” Do your unanswered questions keep you from the life God offers?
“ Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Do your objections keep you from experiencing the good news?
JOURNEY DEEPER