What Will it take for you to believe?

READ PSALM 78:21-39

Psalm 78:32(ESV)

³² In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.

I grew up in a south suburb of Chicago. My parents were worship leaders at a local church so my brothers and I were at the church when the doors were unlocked. My dad was often the guy unlocking them! Every Wednesday night and Sunday morning we were there. I can't think of any other kids I grew up with who attended church more than we did, and that's okay. I didn't think we were "odd" or anything until some of the other kids in elementary school began to make fun of us.

One of the nicknames I was given by the school bully was "holy boy." Listen, I understand other people have been called much worse, but when you're in 3rd and 4th grade and the other kids start laughing at you because of a nickname it is still hurtful.

I tell this story because even as a child I remember being proud of my faith in Jesus. I walked home from school in tears on many occasions, crying out to Jesus (actually, challenging Jesus) to visibly appear to my friends on the playground to show them that He was real and they were wrong to call me names!

Why did I do that?

Well, I used to believe that miracles, signs, and wonders of the presence and power of Jesus would provide definitive proof to all unbelievers that Jesus not only existed, but is God! Surely there would be no debate if He appeared and had a conversation with someone who doubts or denies Him.

But you know what, the Israelites in the Old Testament were given daily access to a visible God. They saw His provision at work in their lives through manna from heaven. They saw His power in action when He held back the waters of the Red Sea. God guided them through the wilderness with a fire by night and a cloud by day. God caused the walls of Jericho to tumble to the ground when the people blew their trumpets and shouted. THEY SAW MOSES HIT A ROCK WITH HIS STAFF AND GOD BROUGHT WATER OUT OF THE ROCK!

Psalm 78:32 In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.

You may be thinking, "Well Josh, that's Old Testament stuff."

Well, when Jesus literally walked onto the New Testament scene with His baptism by John the Baptist, His arrival was announced with a tearing open of the clouds, the Spirit descending on Him like a dove, and an audible voice from heaven declaring, "You are my beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

What happened during His three years of ministry?

He healed people. The blind received sight, the lame could now walk, the dead were raised to life. The hungry were given food. It didn't matter if 4,000 or 5,000 needed food, Jesus could always multiply what He was given to make it more than enough.

John, Jesus' youngest disciple, walked with Him for three years and saw all the miracles that were done for the crowds. John tells us this interesting piece of information to close out his gospel.

John 21:25(ESV)

²⁵ Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Check this out, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been dead for four days, the response of the Pharisees was not to crown Him Lord. It actually became the final straw that broke the camels back. They declared, "Jesus has to die!"

Read the account here: John 12:9-11

In the end, for unbelieving people Jesus was never enough! It didn't matter what He did, a hardened heart will refuse to believe.

I wish I could go back and speak to my younger self. I would say, "It's okay Josh, I know you're hurt by their mocking words. But even if Jesus Himself appeared to them they would not believe. History has proven it over and over again. Pray for them, Josh. Pray for the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts into good soil, so that at the right time someone will come along and plant the good news of Jesus in them. Then they will believe."

If you're reading this right now and you struggle to believe in the life-transforming power of Jesus, go ahead and pray to Him right now. Ask Jesus to show you all the times in your life that He appeared and guided your steps. Perhaps He kept you out of harms way and you didn't even know it. Perhaps He kept you alive when you should be dead. Perhaps He rescued you when you were in need of saving. In spite of all this, you have not believed.

What will it take for you to believe?

Ask Jesus to connect the dots on every area of your life. Ask Him to show you the big picture of "you" and how He has always been there for you even when you didn't acknowledge Him. Ask Him to appear to you now. I promise to pray for you and ask for Jesus to do the same thing for you that He did for me. My friend, He is one conversation away from being present, powerful, and active in your life.

Here is a final encouraging thought: Belief in Jesus rarely comes as a result of miracles, signs, and wonders in your life. But miracles, signs, and wonders often follow your belief.

It's time to believe in Jesus.

Romans 10:8-9(ESV)

⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN. If you would like to support this website and make it possible for this page to stay active and these devotions to reach a wider audience, CLICK HERE

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