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Matthew 16:1-4
In Matthew 16:1-4 is an example of being blind spiritually. The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked Him for a sign from heaven, but what they were blind to was the fact that Jesus Himself was the very sign from heaven that they were seeking. They chose not to believe in Jesus, being the sign and the gift from heaven that the entire nation of Israel had been long awaiting.
This is an example of the hard hearts of man that continually consume what is given by God in a quest for more yet refuse to believe in Him.
Through the sinful nature that is at work in us all, we are prone to be skeptical, especially of the things in which we cannot see – the spiritual side of true life as is that offered to us through salvation in Christ Jesus. But in many cases it is the simplicity of the spiritual signs that God gives us that seem too good to be true, yet the signs to put our faith in Christ Jesus are all around us. The Apostle Paul declares these simple truths in 1 Corinthians. He states in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NKJV), “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the
understanding of the prudent.” [Isaiah 29:14]
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” God gives us all we need to believe in the gift that He has given us, but we must make the decision for ourselves to trust in Him; if you will, He will give you life everlasting (John 3:16).
Dear LORD,
We are prone through the sinful nature that fights against us each day to doubt. We need Your help to believe in the signs that You give us in the simple things that we tend to overlook each day that prove Your existence to us over and over. Please help us to believe LORD – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.