(The Story of Jesus)
Throughout the rebellious teen years of being “half kid” and “half adult” we struggled and our own kids struggled with self doubt, wonderings of who we are and what are we to do in life, sometime feeling alone while dying to be accepted. This stage of life also points a spotlight heavily on success and failure. Who is on my side?, we cry out. Knowing this, I would sit my own three teens down during times of frustration for them (and myself as mom) and let them know, without a doubt, that we might disagree on life at the moment, but I AM ON YOUR SIDE! I will ALWAYS love you more than you can imagine.
In our next passage, John and his followers need to be reassured that Jesus is the ONE. John is the one who baptized Jesus, so this confuses us a bit. But he is sitting in prison and apparently needs reassurance. Jesus tells John, through his followers, that he is not alone. God is indeed on his side. I AM who you expected. Believe and be blessed…
Matthew 11, Msg:
“John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, ‘Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?'”
“Jesus told them, ‘Go back and tell John what’s going on:
The blind see,
The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear,
The dead are raised,
The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.
Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!”
Dear Heavenly Father, YOU are the ONE we expect! When we read about You each morning, how can we doubt Who you are? But we do sometimes and need assurance when we sit in our own prisons of doubt and despair. You are with us. Your Word brings us back to the core of our being with “God is on your side!” Wow, Your are God and we are not. We rise up from doubt to bless Your Holy Name! We pray for those, around the world sitting in real, physical prisons because of their faith. Reassure them this day and always, with “God is with you and is on your side. Emmanuel. God with us. We are grateful to be on your side. There is no other way.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 