You Will Be Astonished

Question to think about: Do you assume or are you astonished?


The United States has finally come to the last day of the 2008 political races. Regardless of their party affiliation, the politicians have spent a good portion of their time making accusations about their opponents and using negative campaign tactics. We tend to blame the politicians for their lack of restraint; however, statistics reveal that people are influenced by the negative information . . . regardless of the actual accuracy.

One of the first principles we learned in nursing school can be used as a life principle: never assume.

The Jewish leaders assumed that Jesus would wreck and ruin their religion. They could not see the presence of God . . . they could not see the purpose of God . . . they could not see the plan of God. Their assumptions blinded them to the truth.

The truth did not and will not change . . . God is at work on behalf of humanity:
"The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. You, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. You must fear the LORD your God and worship him and cling to him. Your oaths must be in his name alone. He is your God, the one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done mighty miracles that you yourselves have seen.” (Deuteronomy 10: 17-21, NLT)

Jesus responded to the Jewish leaders:
“For the Father loves the Son and tells him everything he is doing, and the Son will do far greater things than healing this man. You will be astonished at what he does. He will even raise from the dead anyone he wants to, just as the Father does.” (John 5:20-21, NLT)

Christ was not limited by the assumptions and accusations of the Jewish leaders. The purpose of God has and always will be carried out. “He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes . . . You will be astonished at what he does.”

Refuse to assume.
Be still and know that God is present . . . God is purposeful . . . God has a plan.
You will be astonished at what God does.


Learning with you to see the astonishing work of God,
Shalom,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2008 All Rights Reserved)