That question comes from John the Baptist. Don't be too hard on him. He was in prison. That’s a reasonable question to ask in prison. We can’t fault John the Baptist for asking it, can we? Perhaps his thinking process went something like this: “Lord, I’ve been doing your will, preaching your Word, baptizing the repentant, preparing the way for you. And now, this? I end up in prison? Is there justice, Lord?”
But Jesus has a word for the one imprisoned: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
At first, these seem like harsh words to one – like myself – who is in a “prison of waiting.” But be encouraged! Jesus’ kingdom is still advancing through:
- Seeing
- Walking
- Cleansing
- Hearing
- Raising
- Preaching
I may be in prison, but God’s Word and God’s work is not shackled! Perhaps the Lord is saying to me (or to you): “Don’t fall away if I assign you to be a witness in your prison. You are part of my plan. Stay true. Continue faithful.”
At the end of the chapter, even we in the prison of waiting receive an amazing offer: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (v. 28). Find rest for your soul, weary “prisoner”!
2 comments:
I used to be concerned because I couldn't clearly determine and state that "This is God's will for me." I could never figure out God's will. I finally did figure out though that we are always where God wants us and can use us. So wherever we are we need to be doing our best to carry His word to those around us. If we do that, then we are where God wants us.
I have reached a similar conclusion as JWade: Wherever I am, I need to see it as an opportunity to be "in Christ." I am at that moment living the will of God and do not need to wait for circumstances to change. That kind of waiting is wasteful.
That is different, however, from the "waiting of rest." When we wait in rest, we do not cease to live Christ where we are, we simply resist trying to work things out on our own. Live active but live surrendered!
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