Our Pastor has been preaching about the supporting cast in the Bible, those people who were in the background, living obedient lives for God, without fame or fanfare. I have loved this series because I, like most of us, question whether what I do really makes a difference. Oh, I know He loves me and He has plans for me. But sometimes I grow weary from the day-in, day-out mundanity of it all. Getting up, going to work, doing the same things, over and over. Wondering if it matters.
For the past three weeks, sermons have focused on John the Baptist. Jesus said of John, "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11).
When our pastor first quoted this verse a few weeks ago, I was shocked. I have read the Bible several times, and the Gospels more than that, but I do not remember ever seeing this verse. That is the thing about the Bible: there is so much content and sometimes we just aren't paying attention or ready to hear what it has to say.
I have always thought John the Baptist was amazing. I mean, who doesn't? He was the forerunner of Jesus, His cousin, and he made the path straight for Jesus. He died a martyr's death and ate locusts (yuck) and honey (yum).
Hearing Matthew 11:11 gives me hope. Even if I am the least in the kingdom of heaven, I am greater than John the Baptist was. He was pretty darn great, if you ask me. He did great things as Jesus' predecessor, more than I will ever do. More than likely, I will not be a martyr, though you never know.
I love how my pastor ties application questions into the end of every sermon. This one was no different.
Last week he talked about the doubt that John had, after being thrown in prison. He had been on the mountaintop, yet now he was in the valley. "When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
More than likely, my pastor said, John was doubting who Jesus was because the script was changed from what he had thought it would be to what Jesus wanted it to be. When Jesus goes off of our script and ad-libs, we start to wonder who He is. This may have been what happened to John. "Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” He may not do what we expect so we start to doubt who He is.
Pastor talked about doubts which are normal in the Christian life. Just because we are mature and have been walking with God for years does not mean we will not have doubts. I don't know about you, but this gives me hope and makes me feel like I am not as weak in my faith as I sometimes think I am.
He also mentioned two myths that we believe:
The first is safety. We think that we will not be in a car accident or a hurricane, that we will always be protected from harm. But we are not always going to be safe. He never said we would be. He said, "I will be with you always." And He keeps His promise. Sometimes when Jesus goes off script in my life, I feel forgotten. But He will never forsake me.
The second myth is certainty. If I am a believer, I won't have doubts anymore. This is a myth as well. Of course we will have doubts. Again, this encourages me because there are times I have doubts. Some things are so difficult to believe and to wrap my head and heart around. If we are honest with ourselves (God already knows our hearts), we must admit the doubt that creeps in, from time to time.
By this time in his sermon, toward the end, I responded as I often do: with tears streaming down my cheeks. He mentioned if what he was saying resonating, we (I) should do two things:
1. Go directly to Jesus with your doubts.
2. Remember your value.
This brings me back, us back, to our value. That is what it all comes down to: value. Where do I place my value? And where does He place His?
Even when he appears to be going off script.