Author: Phil Meade

Evangelical preacher and theologian Henry Blackaby writes:

When you seek to obey what God has told you, you will sometimes meet resistance and criticism from others who disagree with the wisdom of your actions. Your immediate response may be the urge to vindicate yourself. However, if you wait patiently, time will reveal the wisdom of your actions far better than you could through argument.

As we conclude our week-long study on handling our doubt and unmet expectations, let’s delve into the topic of wisdom. If you wish to dive headlong into this subject, the book of Proverbs is a great place to start. Wisdom – as described in Proverbs – is: “given by God;” “more precious than jewels;” “pleasant, peaceful, and humbling;” “loyal and protective;” and “antithetical to the fool.” I have heard wisdom defined as knowledge tempered by experience.

The short passage in today’s devotional concludes Luke’s account of Jesus’ response to John the Baptist. What Jesus is saying is that wisdom will ultimately win the day, and our doubts and unmet expectations will be seen in the clear rearview mirror of wisdom. Wisdom in this sense gives “birth” to “children,” personified as actions or deeds. Wisdom also strengthens our faith and leads us to a deeper trust in Jesus.

My favorite author, Charles Dickens, notes, “There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.” We can have one without the other. Wisdom solely of the head can lead to enlightenment, but can also lead to pride and arrogance. Wisdom solely of the heart can lead to compassion, but also can lead to emotion-based beliefs and decisions.

Jesus is the perfect blend of the two. He quite often quotes Scripture to combat evil. He has a heart for his generation that is full of compassion – yet never acts out of emotional impulse. Obviously, he never doubts the will of His Father, nor has any expectations outside the will of His Father.

When those doubts arise – we all have them – seek wisdom in God’s Word. Have faith in the one who died for you – trust Jesus by His deeds – rest assured that God will justify your actions!

I find this passage in Scripture a little confusing and intimidating. John the Baptist is a pillar of the faith – the fulfilment of prophecy (Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1). He is the last in the line of prophets. He gives the final prophecy of the coming Messiah (Matt. 3), and he is the first person to recognize the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29). He is also the cousin of Jesus and becomes a martyr for his faith. I don’t know about you, but I am pretty sure that I am not the fulfilment of any prophecy!

Jesus extols the greatness of John, yet notes that all those in His kingdom are greater than John (v. 28). Charles Spurgeon explains, “As we may say, as a rule, that the darkest day is lighter than the brightest night; so, John, though first of his own order, is behind the last of the new or Gospel order. The least in the Gospel stands on higher ground than the greatest under the law.” I shall now attempt to explain the words of Jesus.

Until Jesus arrives on earth, the world is under the Law. With the incarnation of Jesus, a new covenant is introduced – the covenant of Grace. John lives and dies under the old Law covenant. Those saved by the blood of Jesus – the author of the new covenant – are “greater than he” in God’s kingdom (v. 28). The fact that those of us saved under the new covenant hold such high regard should both humble us and, more importantly, empower us!

God promises Joshua to “be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). We should hold fast to that promise as well. Jesus is empowered by the Holy Spirit to do good works during His time on earth (Acts 10:38). When doubts and unfulfilled expectations arise, just remember the power of the Holy Spirit also indwells and empowers you!

Actions speak louder than words! I believe Jesus exemplifies that adage. Make no mistake, Jesus is an effective and powerful orator! In this story from Scripture, Jesus’ first response to John’s question is action (v. 21). He then answers John’s messengers by instructing them to tell John what they have seen and heard (v. 22). I think this story is a great example of the different ways we can be reassured that Jesus is who He says He is!

One source that addresses our doubt is found in the truth of the Word of God. God knows what is in our heart, and His Word is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword . . . discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). Paul promises the church in Rome that “through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4b). When doubts start to creep into your psyche, open up your Bible and let the truth contained in the Word of God wash away those doubts. As Jesus reminds us, “whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23). Stand firm on the truth of God’s Word during seasons of doubt – your witness to others will shine brightly through the darkness!

Another source that eases our doubt is faith. The writer of Hebrews clearly states that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Faith is counterintuitive to doubt. Without faith, we must rely on our own understanding to explain the seeds of our doubt. With faith, we rely on the sovereignty of God and believe in His promise that “I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). Faith is the “victory that has overcome the world” (1 John 5:4).

Trust is a way to resolve our unmet expectations. I believe trust is earned through the observation of action. Jesus answers John’s question with a demonstration of His true calling (v. 21). When a situation does not result in the expected outcome, we must trust in what Jesus achieves for us. Jesus heals the sick and raises the dead to prove His power. Jesus goes to the cross to reveal His love. The apostle John writes, “let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). The truth of Jesus was demonstrated in His deeds – we must lean on that truth and align our expectations with that truth.

In the classic baseball movie “Field of Dreams,” Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) complains to Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) – “I did it all. I listened to the voices, I did what they told me, and not once did I ask what’s in it for me.” Joe’s response – “What are you saying, Ray?” Ray sheepishly replies – “I’m saying, what’s in it for me?” Ray did what he was called to do, yet the end result was not what he expected.

John the Baptist knows his calling – a voice crying in the wilderness (Isa. 40:3). He prophesies the coming Messiah – the conqueror of the occupying Roman Empire. When John hears that Jesus is preaching a different message, John sends two of his disciples to Jesus to assuage his doubts and to elucidate his unmet expectations. John reaches out to the source to calm his fears and to reassure himself that his mission and his message are not in vain.

We too have the ability to take our doubts and expectations to the source. Jesus wants to hear our doubts and longs to reassure us that He is in control. One way to accomplish this is through prayer. As a result of the atoning work of Christ, we now have access to “confidently” approach the “throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). Do not be afraid to ask Jesus the tough questions – I think His behavior during His trial clearly demonstrates His ability to withstand scrutiny!

Jesus already knows what is in your heart, but talk to Him regardless – just remember to patiently and humbly listen for His response. Let Him reconcile your doubts and reset your expectations. Give up control of your life to Him – you will never feel more in control than when you give up control!

As we have witnessed in the last two weeks, Jesus heals a centurion’s servant (Lk. 7:1-10) and raises a widow’s only son from the dead (Lk. 7:11-17). We begin this week with John the Baptist in prison. John is imprisoned for condemning the marriage of Herod Antipas to his brother’s wife, Herodias. With John in prison, many of his disciples begin to follow Jesus instead of John (see Andrew in John 1:37, 40).

John is told of all that Jesus has been saying and doing in Capernaum along the shores of the Sea of Galilee (v. 18). Even though John proclaims Jesus as – “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ . . . 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-30, 34 ESV) – John still has lingering questions and doubts. Dutch minister J. N. Geldenhuys notes, “John was already in prison, and things began to appear incomprehensible to him. He had expected that Christ would speedily destroy the powers of darkness and judge the unrighteous. But instead of doing this, He leaves him, His forerunner, helpless in prison.”

John is in the midst of great personal tragedy. He is in prison, and he senses that his days are numbered. He devotes his life to the service of God and heralds the arrival of the blessed Messiah. John expects judgment and revolution – Jesus proclaims mercy and love. John knows that the prophet Isaiah promises a savior who will “bring good news to the poor; bind up the brokenhearted; liberate the captives; and release those bound in prison” (Isa. 61:1). John is sure that the Messiah will usher in “a day of vengeance of our God” (Isa. 61:2a).

John’s expectations of the actions of the Messiah – whom he has foretold – are going unmet. One would think that of all those who come into contact with Jesus, John is the last person who still has doubts and shattered hopes. John hears that the poor receive the “good news,” and the brokenhearted receive healing – yet John sits in prison and looks to the Messiah to “liberate the captives – to open the prison gates, and unbind the prisoners.”

John – like the rest of us – is human. Life happens – circumstances can cause us to doubt and question. I believe God understands our occasional doubts and our feeling of unmet expectations. Tomorrow we will explore how our response to such feelings should mirror the response of John the Baptist.

When we think of great acts of generosity, what comes to mind? Is it an endowment at a university? Is it a building or a stretch of interstate highway named after a generous donor? Is it the great industrialists and philanthropists of the early twentieth century? Or is it Mother Teresa, whose life’s work was spent serving the poor in the slums of Calcutta?

The story of Zacchaeus illustrates a godly change of heart. I believe Zacchaeus desperately sought out Jesus because this wealthy, greedy tax collector knew in his heart that he had been stealing from his people—and from God. He no longer wanted to be a thief; instead, he desired to work honestly so he could share with anyone in need (Eph. 4:28).

I love reading classic literature. Over the past twenty-five years, I have read at least a few hundred classic novels from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. My favorite author, by far, is Charles Dickens. His character development and plot twists are exceptional. No matter how depressing the story may seem, love always wins the day.

If you want an easy introduction to Dickens—just over 150 pages—try A Christmas Carol. We all know the story, and most film adaptations stay remarkably faithful to the book. My kids and I have a tradition of watching The Muppet Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve. Early in the story, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley (the Muppets’ version has the Marley brothers, but I digress). When Scrooge reminds his old partner that he was a “good man of business,” Marley laments:

“Business!… Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

Those words have stayed with me from the moment I first read them. I didn’t have quite the Scrooge-level epiphany, but they were profound nonetheless. I realized that, like Zacchaeus, God calls us not to be rich merely in this life, but to invest in the next. Do I still cling too tightly at times to my time, talent, and treasure? Absolutely. But, like the Grinch, my heart continues to grow through the grace of Jesus Christ. I pray that each of you will trust God enough to make “mankind your business.”

If you’d like to read more Dickens:

• A Tale of Two Cities or Great Expectations — the timeless classics.
• Little Dorrit or Our Mutual Friend — underrated masterpieces.
• Dombey and Son — especially for fathers with daughters. Keep a box of tissues nearby.

The prophet Malachi records God’s chastisement of the Israelites for withholding part of the required tithe. This is the only time in Scripture where God challenges His people to “put me to the test” (v. 10a). I have heard Mike preach on numerous occasions that “you cannot outgive God.” God tells the Israelites that if they obey His command to tithe faithfully, the “windows of heaven” will open, and He will “pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (v. 10b).

Why, then, do we steal from God? If you believe that all we possess comes from God and that we are merely stewards of His blessings, then stealing from Him should never cross your mind. However, ever since the Fall, trusting God to provide for our every need has often been a struggle. The original sin in the Garden was born from a desire to possess something that God had forbidden. The fruit appealed to Eve’s senses of sight and taste, and she desired it because of its promise of wisdom (Gen. 3). Eve did not trust God to fulfill her heart’s desires, so she took matters into her own hands. She stole what rightfully belonged to God, and the rest is history.

David writes, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps. 24:1). God created it, and He owns it all. He uniquely blesses each of us with time, talent, and treasure. When we selfishly misuse one or more of these gifts, we dishonor the Giver. As Paul writes to the church in Rome, “You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? … You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law” (Rom. 2:21, 23).

We dishonor God when we steal time from Him or from others. If we fail to support the church or to give generously to others when the opportunity arises, we violate this commandment. If your life experiences or God-given talents are not used in service to your fellow man, you deprive those in need of the very gifts God has entrusted to your care. I am not saying that God blesses us solely so we can bless others. Rather, I am saying that we should receive every blessing of time, talent, and treasure with open hands, allowing those blessings to flow through us to others. As Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap” (Luke 6:38).

Paul Harvey tells the story of a woman who pulls a turkey out of her freezer after it has been frozen for more than twenty years. She calls the turkey hotline to ask whether it is safe to thaw and cook the bird. She also asks if it will still be edible. The turkey experts assure her that, yes, it is perfectly safe to cook and eat a turkey that has remained continuously frozen for all those years. However, they also explain that while it may be safe to consume, it will likely have the taste and consistency of cardboard, so they recommend throwing it in the trash. The woman happily responds, “Good, that’s what I thought. We’ll give it to the church.”

The moral of the story? Are we giving to the church—and, by extension, to the community at large—our leftovers?

Stealing often takes the form of withholding. Paul reminds his readers in Rome to “pay to all what is owed to them.” He doesn’t say pay some or pay partially, but to pay everyone in full. This principle includes not only monetary debts but also relational obligations, such as honor and respect. When we steal from another member of our community, we sin not only against that individual but also against the community as a whole.

The early church provides a wonderful example of communal generosity. Paul frequently encourages and commends the churches for their charitable support. There were occasions, however, when he had to remind some of them that they had been less than generous. If you want to see an example of withholding—or stealing—from the early church community, look no further than Acts 4 and 5.

The members of the early church were selling houses and land and giving the proceeds to the apostles so the needs of the people could be met (Acts 4). Ananias and Sapphira did the same, but greedily withheld part of the proceeds for themselves. Peter confronted them, and within a few hours, both had dropped dead! Luke concludes this narrative by noting that “great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things” (Acts 5:11).

When we steal from a member of our community, we choose self over society. We choose greed over the greater good. We look inward rather than outward. We look more like the enemy and less like the Overcomer. Jesus gave for all—we take for one. The next time you think about withholding aid from your community, remember how that worked out for Ananias and Sapphira!

J. L. Duncan comments that stealing “is a sin against the image of God in man because it does harm to a person created in the image of God.” Stealing from our fellow human beings is usually prompted by greed, envy, jealousy, or a sense of entitlement. When you take something that belongs to another, you rob them not only of the item you stole but also of their dignity.

If you have ever been the victim of theft, you know the sense of violation it brings. Quite often, the loss of the stolen item hurts less than the pain inflicted by the perpetrator. You feel vulnerable, and you lose trust in your fellow man. Unfortunately, we often have short memories. We can become the perpetrator of theft without giving a second thought to the damage we are inflicting on the victim.

Zacchaeus is the chief tax collector, which means he is a wealthy man. He, a Jew, is a representative of the Roman occupiers, thus making Zacchaeus a hated man. Tax collectors of that day were notorious for collecting more than the law required and pocketing the difference. Zacchaeus is literally stealing money right out of the pockets of his own people. He is hurting others while satisfying his own greed.

Fortunately for Zacchaeus, Jesus walks by. Jesus invites Himself to the home of Zacchaeus, greatly displeasing the crowd but bringing great joy to Zacchaeus. I find Zacchaeus’ confession to Jesus particularly interesting. He doesn’t directly confess to fraud but instead uses the tiny caveat, “if.” I am sure those in the crowd rolled their eyes when they heard Zacchaeus’ equivocal admission. However, Jesus knew what was in Zacchaeus’ heart, and He commended him for being a “true son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9).

Stealing from another is disobedience to a commandment of God. Theft may involve material possessions, but it often involves things that cannot be touched. We can rob someone of their joy, happiness, or passion. Just a harsh word or two can steal away a person’s dignity, confidence, or sense of worth. I personally believe the greatest damage theft causes is the loss of trust that follows. Trust is something that must be earned, and once it is lost, it is very difficult to regain. Think—better yet, pray—before taking any action that robs another person of anything. If you have already crossed that line, it is not too late to climb that tree, lock eyes with Jesus, and invite Him into your home and heart.

Four simple words. On the surface, what seems like a straightforward prohibition against stealing is, in fact, a prohibition against a greedy heart! You may think you’ve never taken anything that didn’t belong to you—and for some of you, that is probably true. Just remember, theft most frequently occurs in ways that are subtle, covert, and unassuming. Merriam-Webster defines steal as: “To take away by force or by unjust, unfair, or dishonest means; to take surreptitiously or without permission.” My goal this week is to challenge each of us to honestly examine our hearts and root out those subtle yet dishonest means of obtaining something that belongs to another.

H. B. Charles Jr. notes that you don’t have to break into your neighbor’s house and rob them at gunpoint to be a thief. He gives many examples of what I would call “passive thievery”:

1. Borrowing something and never returning it;
2. Never repaying a debt;
3. Plagiarizing the work of another;
4. Engaging in dishonest business practices;
5. Evading taxes.

From overt physical theft to more subtle forms of withholding or dishonesty, we now come to perhaps the most “innocent,” yet most dangerous, form of stealing—the “everyone does it” kind of theft. This can include not correcting a salesperson when you receive too much change (I know—who uses cash anymore?) or noticing, but not correcting, an undercharge for a service or item. Think about how quickly we would complain if those same situations resulted in a deficit rather than a surplus! Other seemingly innocent forms of theft may include taking workplace items for personal use and sharing passwords or subscription accounts. I am not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone—I know I have been guilty of some of these forms of thievery myself.

Jesus knew where the root of all evil resides—in the heart. He said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matt. 15:19, ESV). Notice that most of these evil deeds are prohibited by Commandments Six through Nine. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the condition of your heart and convict you with grace as we journey through this week together.