The Sign of The Word, Luke 7:18-22

Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"' And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Isaiah 35:5-6a says,

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing.

     The Pharisees were constantly asking Jesus for a sign to prove that He was who He claimed to be. Their hearts were so hard that they did not believe the miraculous things that Jesus did right before them, and so they insisted on some greater miracle, some greater sign than that which Jesus had already performed. But the Pharisees were not alone in asking for signs to prove to them that Jesus is who He claims to be. John the Baptist also had a seed of doubt in his heart, and so he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was really the One. Though he didn't ask specifically for a "sign", so to speak, the concept is the same. He was not looking at what Jesus had already done as evidence, and still having doubt in his heart he sought further proof than what had already been shown him.
     Jesus' answer to John the Baptist is amazingly simple, and yet so hard to accept at the same time. He simply pointed them to the Word. He had been fulfilling prophecy and thus He simply pointed out the fact that He had indeed been doing so. He had been healing the lame, giving sight to the blind, and cleansing the lepers, just as Isaiah the prophet had foretold by the Spirit that the Messiah, the Coming One, would do.

     In our lives we too have a tendancy to doubt who Jesus is. We ask for proof that He loves us, as if His dying on the cross was not enough. We ask Him for evidence of His forgiveness. We question His patience and doubt His good intent toward us. But He is faithful (even when we are faithless!), and points us back to... His Word! The Bible teaches us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). And Jesus Himself made this statement. His Word tells us that if we confess our sins He is just and faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). It tells us God is love (1 John 4:8), and that love is patient, kind, that it does not envy or boast, nor is it proud. It goes on to say that it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs; love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, and that love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). His Word assures us that He has a plan for us that is good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11), and that all things are working together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
     Most assuredly we have no reason to doubt any of the above mentioned things, nor any other thing that Jesus claimed to be or do. And if He is so gracious and faithful in such things, why should we doubt His provision in the other parts of our lives that may not specifically be mentioned in the Bible? Has He not proven Himself beyond the shadow of a doubt to be the most benevolent and kind, most loving and merciful and compassionate One that ever existed? Surely He has.

     In my own walk with the Lord I too have doubts that come in and flood my mind. I pray to the Lord regarding a certain matter, and I ask Him not to show my in signs (unless He should so choose) but rather from His Word, for I know I can trust His word. And many times I believe He shows me answers to my prayers in His word, and yet I am prone to even doubt that. Then I ask the Lord to just tell me the answer. But He refers me always back to His Word. The problem is I just don't trust myself-- I think that somehow what I am thinking is an answer to my situation may, in acutality, be my own wicked heart deceiving me to believe something that the Lord has not shown me. But in each scenario I think I have a peace from the Lord, and yet I am prone to doubt even that peace because I feel that if the answers are in accordance to what I want that it must be of my own imaginings-- God couldn't be so wonderful and amazing to grant me what my heart desires, or at least, not now, and not yet, and not in such and such a way.
     And yet I know that if I delight myself in the Lord that He will give me the desires of my heart. One of my desires for so long (as long as I can remember) has been to be married. And as I know that this desire will be fulfilled by the Lord, somehow it seems that it's always something for the future, and can never be something that happens in the present. Somehow this desire applies to that verse, but the desire I may have for a certain person to be that person, I feel, is irrelevant and that the promise of God does not apply. This is all because, I believe, I do not want to set my heart on wanting something before I know whether or not it is the Lord's will for my life.
     But the Lord has led me to a place where I have asked Him to fulfill this desire specifically, but yet according to His will. And you know, I have a peace about that. Even if it does not come to pass, at least I have been honest and open before the Lord about my heart's desire. And James said, "You have not because you ask not". So at least I have asked. We must not doubt the kindness and mercy, the graciousness and abundant blessings of the Lord. He wants to shower us with good and perfect gifts, and they are not only something to be dreamed of, but He will actually give them to you. He doesn't just hold them in front of your face and give you something to long for. That is not kind. That is not loving. That is not God.

     Trust in God, and do not doubt the goodness of God. Wait on the Lord, and He will direct Your paths. In everything present your requests to God, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. He will not tempt you with something He will not give you, for God does not tempt people. But every good and perfect gift is from above, from God. He wants to bless us! He loves us and cares about us more than we could ever know. Put your trust in Him and wait on the Lord to fulfill your heart's desires.