Hanging on a Word

²⁷ And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.^[e] 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,³⁰ save yourself, and come down from the cross!” Mark 15:27-30.  ESV

It’s very important to write down words that you believe God is speaking to you.  For the time will come when you will be tested in your trust and faith by the question, “has God really said…?”  Knowing exactly what was said to you is important.  Adam and Eve were instructed not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil…God did not say anything about touching it.  When Eve touched the fruit and did not die, it gave her strength to continue to question God’s warning to them.

Jesus endured pain and ridicule on the cross.  He suffered ridicule in our place.  This type of taunting makes us feel low and worthless.  We desire to answer back to make the record straight.  But to engage in that discussion is many times trying to answer a fool in his folly.  It is best to remain quite.  Jesus could have said, ”I said, if YOU destroy this temple, I will rebuild it.”  They were in fact destroying the temple of his body.  But Jesus did not answer them a word.

There may be times when you testify of the goodness and/or the direction that the Lord has given to you.  Shortly, you will have an opportunity to “walk out” that word from God.  Will you try to change what He said?  Will you tell others that what you heard was wrong?  Will you believe that you have little ability to discern the voice of God?  Will you stop testifying and become quiet about God’s movement in your life?  Jesus said, “My sheep know my voice, I call them by name and they follow me.”  We have no other choice as children of God than to follow the constant leading of the Holy Spirit.

Draw strength that Jesus endured ridicule.  There will be a testing of faith.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  The test is to hold to the Word of God through its fulfillment.  You can do this!  Jesus led the way, we get to follow. It will be worth hanging onto His word.