Remain reliant upon God to walk the walk of faith

12. At least three times in the Gospels, Jesus is accused of being slow to respond. His friend Lazarus had died in Bethany, and Jesus lingers for a few days before arriving at his town. In another place, Jesus sleeps in the boat while the disciples become more and more alarmed that the growing storm will sweep them away. In still another place, James and John ask Jesus if they should call down fire upon a city that rejected him … in a way commenting on what they perceive as Jesus not being involved enough.

 

We have to recognize in ourselves this same impatience toward God. As I have said before, it will not do for us to expect God to pay us back with a sense of His presence for whatever work we put into His kingdom. Once we set out as men and women walking by faith, we must not expect to “graduate” into a walk by sight. If anything, this would be a digression.

 

The disciples were men closest of all to knowing Jesus and being familiar with his intentions. Yet, even though they have known him and followed him, they find themselves often unclear about how to follow or what to say.

 

It is saying nothing new to warn that, even though we pray a lot and press ourselves into the knowledge and understanding of God, we must not consider our own perspective to be unerring. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Or, as the wording of the New Jerusalem Bible has it: “put no faith in your own perception.”

 

It is a mistake to think ourselves accomplished in matters of faith. We are ever reliant upon God to “show us his ways” and “teach us his paths” (from Psalm 25). If we stop this seeking, our finding will come to an end.