From the Cross: Doubt

by David Chadwick

One of the things I love to do at our church is to invite people to come to the altar and place their burdens, hurts, hangups, and sins at the foot of the cross. The wonderful cross.

This series is going to be very special and deeply personal. Over the next couple of weeks, we are going to look at the top 20 things that people wrote down on notecards at our Service of Darkness this past April. These are real anguishes that people inside of our local church anonymously laid at the foot of the cross during some of our ministry times. As you read along, I pray that God brings healing to some of the real needs that people are facing right now. I also pray that he will not only remove your sin or pain, but that he will replace it with something good!

Let’s start with doubt. There is good doubt and bad doubt. Good doubt provokes people to find answers. Someone once said that good doubt can be the ants in the pants of faith. It motivates you to find meaning where you have questions, which, in turn, builds your faith.

Look at Thomas as an example of good doubt in John 20. After Jesus’s death, his heart was filled with doubt. He ran from his community of faith. When he finally returned to be with the other disciples, he heard the news that Jesus had returned in resurrection glory, but he continued to walk in good doubt. He said that unless he could touch Jesus’s nail-pierced hands and sword-stabbed side, he wouldn’t believe it. But when Jesus appeared to him, the text says that Thomas immediately believed. His doubt finally led him to belief! And there’s no evidence he ever touched Jesus’s wounds.

But bad doubt is a crippling tactic of the enemy. It lingers. It leads you into a pit where you never seek and never find answers. It makes you question God, his existence, the promises in his Word, the veracity of Scripture, or this really big one…his goodness. When Satan can get you to question the goodness of God, despair enters. Ultimately, it leads to unbelief, something that Jesus rebuked repeatedly throughout Scripture. He knew that a cemented unbelief always leads to a hardening of heart, a blaspheming of the Spirit, and an eternity in hell. James 1:6-8 says that doubt without answers is like someone caught in a wave, being tossed to and fro.

So how do you overcome not only doubt but all of the issues we will look at in this series? First, you must totally commit your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing confidently that you are not your own but bought with a price by the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Secondly, you must choose to believe. Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “Blessed are those who walk by faith and not by sight.” Could it be that the greatest antidote to doubt is the childlike willingness to believe all God’s promises without having seen them? A willingness to take him at his word and know that his promises are true? A desire to use faith to conquer doubt? Yes, these are the ones who will truly be blessed.

Today’s Prayer of Confession: Father God, deliver me from evil. Remove doubt and replace it with BELIEF in the Lord Jesus, that I might be saved (Acts 16:31)!

Hearing God’s Voice: Abide in Christ

by Marilynn Chadwick

I’m always watching for signs of God at work. Looking for insights from his Word. Watching closely for his "fingerprints." I often ask God to open my eyes so I may see him more clearly. I am convinced that abiding in Christ’s Presence holds the answer to life’s problems. So why do I sometimes race around looking everywhere else for solutions?

My commitment to abide in Christ has been made stronger by recent conversations with friends. Each confided they were overwhelmed by the same problem. Anxiety. They were consumed with worry about frightening events in the news. Admittedly, the world can be a scary place right now. Wars and rumors of wars abound. Random acts of violence hit close to home. Persecution of Christians is at an all-time high. Some say it’s the most dangerous time in history to believe in Jesus.

It has always been dangerous to follow God. The Bible is full of examples of believers facing persecution. John the Baptist met a gruesome death at the hands of the evil ruler Herod. John had confronted Herod on his adulterous relationship with Herodias, his brother's wife. Herod  wanted to kill John but feared the crowd. Look at what happened next:

But at Herod's birthday celebration, he got his chance. Herodias’s daughter provided the entertainment, dancing for the guests. She swept Herod away. In his drunken enthusiasm, he promised her on oath anything she wanted. Already coached by her mother, she was ready: “Give me, served up on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer.” That sobered the king up fast. Unwilling to lose face with his guests, he did it—ordered John’s head cut off and presented to the girl on a platter. She in turn gave it to her mother (Matthew 14:6-12 MSG).

Notice the reaction of Jesus to the death of his dearly loved cousin. The Bible tells us he went away by himself to be alone with God. Though he was God Incarnate, Jesus was fully human. We must assume he needed time to process the tragedy, to pour out his heart, to be healed and strengthened by his heavenly Father. But while on the way, he is intercepted by a crowd of needy and hurting people. Moved with compassion, he heals their sick and even performs a miracle of feeding the 5000. I'm sure Jesus was exhilarated.

But notice: He still needed time alone with God.

As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

Matthew 14:22,23 MSG

Jesus withdrew to pray, to heal, to grieve, to seek renewed strength. To abide. If Jesus needed to be alone with his heavenly Father when walking through a valley, how much more do we?

Hearing God’s Voice: Sharpen Your Hearing

by Marilynn Chadwick

Consider the miracle of speech. Our voice sets us apart from the animals. It allows us to communicate with each other. It connects us to God. A voice is a powerful tool.

I believe our most important task is to train ourselves to hear God's voice. Jesus gives us a beautiful description of his role as the "good shepherd." He proves his love by "laying down his life for his sheep” (John 10:11). What a stark contrast with the "hired hand." This false shepherd cares only for himself—when he sees a wolf coming, he cuts and runs to save himself leaving the sheep defenseless.

Whose voice is most familiar to you? I can easily recognize my husband David’s voice. When he calls, he doesn't have to identify himself. My sensitivity to his voice comes from our relationship. So it is with Jesus. If we are one of his followers, we recognize his voice. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27 NIV).

Listening to the right voice can be the difference between life and death. Ponder God's sober warning to the children of Israel: "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings, and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him..." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV).

So many voices compete for our attention. We can tune our hearts to hear God’s voice by spending time in his Word (Romans 10:17). Here are a few tips on how I sharpen my hearing:

• I carve out time in the morning for God's Word and prayer. It's my priority. I call this my "morning launch." I also have a favorite spot for my quiet time.

• I often use a Bible reading plan along with my Study Bible, journal, and prayer list.

• I try to pray “without ceasing,” sometimes while folding clothes, driving across town, or on an afternoon walk. Praying throughout the day keeps my connection with God flowing and sharpens my hearing. It also helps me keep watch for answers!

I hope you, too, will learn to sharpen your hearing of God’s voice. Learn about his nature and character. Train yourself to get close enough to him to understand how he would lead you.