Day 231: Actions

John 10:22-42; 2 Chronicles 9; Psalm 74

While the significance of all of what Jesus says in this passage isn't completely clear to me at the moment, there are some things that stick out. First, Jesus says "I have told you and you refused to believe me" but it is "the things I do" that "show who I am." His point is, he can say and say and say all day long, but it is his actions that demonstrate who he really is. It's the same for us. I can say and say and say, until I'm blue in the face, that I'm a Christian, but until my actions reflect such a statement, who I really am could still be questionable. Words don't mean much without action to back them up. Anyone could agree with that, and that is precisely what Jesus is saying. Secondly, Jesus tells these people that they are not his sheep, so they don't know his voice or follow him. I've always wondered, does God send the people to the message, or the message to the people? In this passage it sounds like he prompts the people to seek out and believe the message. I'm not sure if that is significant or not, but there you go, my thoughts.

Solomon is the man. He is so wise and so wealthy, that people came from all over the world to just listen to him, even the Queen of Sheba. She had heard rumors of how famous and intelligent Solomon was and went to check it out for herself. I think that shows her wisdom: she was unwilling to just hear the rumors and be satisfied, so she went to discover the truth for herself. Because of that, she praises God, and God earns more glory on that day. Solomon's life was a testament to how much God loved his people. The Lord placed a ruler above all rulers to lead the people demonstrating that he cared for the wellbeing of his people. Solomon obeyed The Lord and everyone was blessed because of it.

It is weird that on the same day as I write the above, the psalm is about how distant God seems from his people. This passage is a cry to The Lord to see and do something about the enemies that disgrace The Lord and beat down his children. It reminds us, first, of how God is the ruler of all things: the land and sea, the night and day. If God can conquer the oceans and split the landscape, then he can manage some enemies. And so this call to him begs him to rescue his people. To contrast this with the previous reading, this just shows that life isn't always going to be peachy. Sometimes God is going to seem really close and his blessings are going to be obvious and numerous. Other times, we will face lonliness and emptiness and even defeat. God will seem more distant and uncaring at those times. But, that's where faith and a deep relationship with him is so important. During those times when it feels like we have to do it all alone, God's still here, he promises that. And the only way that isn't true is if our Sovereign Creator is a liar. So, I pray that we pursue an intimate relationship with our Lord so that in those dark times, we still believe he is here and faithful.