Elevation Rhythm: A 7-Day DevotionalSample

REALITY

I can believe. I can believe before I see.  

In John 4 we get to read about one of the craziest faith stories in the Bible. The story begins with a royal official whose son was sick and on the verge of death. The father heard that Jesus was in a town twenty miles away and made the game-time decision to leave his dying boy to search for the One people called “Healer.” Keep in mind, that was a twenty mile trek by foot — not car — so we’re talking about a heck of a walk. Once he found Jesus, he begged Him to come to his home, but Jesus responded by saying, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” Ouch. 

But the father didn’t give up. He continued to plead with Jesus to come with him. His persistence must have moved Jesus’ heart because Jesus responded by telling him, “Go, your son will live” and the Bible tells us that the man believed what Jesus said and left. 

What the what? 

The dad wanted Jesus to walk home with him, but instead Jesus sent him on his way with nothing but a promise. No lengthy instructions. No medicine. No company for the long walk home. Just a promise. But when God gives us a promise, that’s all we need. So, for twenty miles the official clung to every word of that promise with no proof because his son’s life depended on it. 

Spoiler alert: The boy lived! We read in John 4:53 that the very moment Jesus spoke the promise and the father believed, the boy was healed. But the father couldn’t see the proof of the promise for 20 miles, yet he still chose to act on what Jesus told him, even when he couldn’t see his miracle.  

God’s promises are still true for us today, whether we can see the proof yet or not. Your life could hinge on which of Jesus’ promises you choose to cling to. You may be in a situation today where God isn’t showing up and working like you’re expecting, but don’t allow that to cause you to believe He isn’t working at all. When God’s words meet our obedience, miracles happen.  

One of the most sincere forms of worship is choosing to trust Jesus when you can’t see the miracle you’ve asked Him for. Pray that God will grow your faith like the father in John 4 so you can sing with confidence and peace, “I believe in you. I don’t need signs and wonders.” and “I will trust in you. I don’t need proof to follow, cause I know it’s true.”

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. Hebrews 11:1