Keep Believing

This week's Thought is written by Peter Hodson.

Unto you therefore who believe He is precious. (1 Peter 2:7)

Some of you may be familiar with the account in The Bible where Aram had laid siege to Samaria until they had completely run out of food and the King of Israel sent his officer to arrest Elisha, believing him to be the cause of their dire situation.  However, God was gracious; 

“Elisha replied, ‘Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.’ The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, ‘That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!’ But Elisha replied, ‘You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!’”
​(2 Kings 7:1-2)
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It was a day of good news for most, but for one person, a day of tragedy.  The King’s officer was killed by the stampede of the starving population of Samaria heading for food! This account highlights to me the seriousness of the sin of unbelief.  Elisha was well known as a prophet of the Lord and the officer had the audacity to question his words!

In these days when the Christian faith is under unprecedented attack particularly in the western world, it can be all too easy to have our senses dulled and we do well to take heed to the writer of the Hebrews:

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12)

This does not necessarily mean turning away from the faith altogether, but even doubting God’s love for us, His steadfastness, His care, His protection.

From time to time in the gospels we read of Christ having to admonish his disciples for being slow of faith and even hard of heart.  Living on this side of the Cross, we have less excuse than they had. Two thousand years have gone by but the reality of the living Christ has not waned, and what “exceedingly great and precious promises” He has given to us! To us, indeed, He is precious.

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8)

Peter Hodson