But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
Any of God’s people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so highly of them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The “leader guidelines” tell us to begin the first night as skeptics…to ask the children if they have heard of this guy, Paul… and the “crazy” things he is saying about some guy named Jesus who died and rose again. Supposedly, Paul is telling people that there is only one God… and He is Jesus! As market vendors during a “festival of gods,” we are to ask the children, “How can this be? Aren’t there many gods?” Recognizing that women probably were not supposed to have an opinion, I told one table of 3rd-graders that I overheard my husband and father talking, and they said that there were MANY gods… that this Paul fellow was wrong. One little girl looked up at me and said, “Well, your husband needs to read his Bible!”
As the Vacation Bible School progresses, we will all learn the TRUTH about Paul and Jesus, and by the last night, my character will have become a believer. But for now, I have a feeling at least one 3rd grader does not trust me! In her mind, I have doubts. She has none… and thankfully, I am happy to report that many other children in the group adamantly expressed an assurance that Jesus is REAL and the one true God.
My character is sort of having a rough go of things. Business is slow in the marketplace, and now some guy has shown up in town stirring up trouble. My character has a lot of questions. As I told the children last night, “I hope I get to meet this Paul guy and hear what he has to say.” And maybe you need to hear from someone about Jesus today. Even if you know Him… you may not really know Him. You may not have the full assurance that He is with you and will provide for your every need, regardless of who you are – or where you are in life. You may not understand that God does not see us as we see ourselves… He doesn’t recognize “beauty” as we do… He doesn’t care about your economic status – He just cares what you do with what you have! God doesn’t judge us by the same criteria we value. He stands ready to bless us… to love and nurture us… to meet our every need. Our job is to trust Him to do so… and to recognize His blessings when they come.
Are you even a little like my marketplace vendor? Are you even the least bit skeptical about when and how God answers our prayers and cares for us? Are you as certain as a 3rd-grader of the power and autonomy of Jesus in your life? Isn’t it time you were? On the way home last night, Timothy reported that “Paul is our friend!” Some of us need to hear this today… and to hear that Jesus is the best Friend we will ever have. If little children who have absolutely zero reference point for a relationship with Jesus can believe in Him so readily and trust His word… why can’t we? Isn’t it time to change this?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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