Performance Based Faith

March 25

(Luke 7:20-23 NIV) ““When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' "  {21} At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. {22} So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: 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. {23} Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.””

(Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV)  "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, {3} and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

John the Baptist had doubts that Jesus was the Messiah. Christ told him to consider the evidence. The blind, the lame, the deaf, and lepers were being healed, and the dead were being raised. Good news was being preached to the poor as Isaiah had prophesied. This was Messiah-level stuff. Fortunate is the disciple who accepts Christ for who He is, instead of coveting a better Lord. Many today want a Jesus who will kick all the bad stuff out of their lives; who will put an end to their suffering; who will do what they want done. They want a Lord who serves their needs instead of them serving Him. And when God does not measure up, they reject Him and miss the blessing. Stop placing your expectations on God. God is the one who has expectations of you. Genuine faith takes whatever comes and still praises God. Genuine faith is not dependent upon God’s performance! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day