(The following is the April 4 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Luke 24 and pay close attention to verses 9-11.)
Are there times when biblical teachings seem hard to believe? Have you ever read a Bible story and asked yourself, “Did that happen like that?” Or had brief moments when you wondered, “Is this all really true?” If so, take heart that the eleven apostles did not believe the women who returned from the empty tomb on resurrection Sunday. “These words seemed like nonsense to them” (v. 11). Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves before being convinced.
We are occasionally told, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” but that is terrible advice regarding the gospel. Biblical claims may sound too fantastic to believe, but they are true. God the Son came to Earth in the flesh. He lived a sinless life, died a cruel death as the perfect sacrifice for our sin, was buried, and rose again on Sunday. He ascended to the Father, where he reigns forever, and he will come again to judge humanity and usher in his eternal kingdom in a new Heaven and Earth. That is a remarkable story to tell. It may sound like nonsense to some unbelievers, but those who know Christ as Savior understand the truth of this extreme claim.
Was there a time in your life when you rejected the gospel, when it made no sense and sounded like a fairy tale for wishful thinkers? It still sounds like that to many unbelievers around the world. So, what should believers do? Keep telling the story. Keep praying for the lost. Hold fast to the faith. Believe all Scripture teaches because God’s Word is trustworthy and true. Like Peter and John, some who hear will seek the truth for themselves. Others will not. But if we believe it to be accurate, we must faithfully proclaim it regardless of how it is received.
Next Step:
Are there aspects of the gospel or any Bible story which you doubt? If so, confess that to God and ask him to open your eyes and grant you faith that fully believes his Word. We cannot be effective witnesses for Christ if we do not trust the Bible ourselves.
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