John 20:29, “Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
John 2:23, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”
1 Peter1:8, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”
I thank God for signs and wonders. They do provoke people to believe, and I’m desperate to be used by Christ in the greater works He promised at a higher level. Having said that, I’m struck by those verses in John 2. Signs and wonders change people’s lives, and that is the best part. I long to see everyone healed, and all the works of the devil destroyed, but in my personal walk I want to exercise the kind of faith He can entrust (commit) Himself to. Only those whom He has deeply committed Himself to can really consistently know His FULNESS experienced, and released in and through them. There is a faith He will commit Himself to, and a faith He won’t commit Himself to. Faith that trusts in experiences, and signs primarily, is a shallow faith that loves the result, without a true love for Him, that wants to please, and obey Him above all things, and is prepared to trust Him, even without the sign, feeling, or experience. Jesus is looking for a faith that goes beyond awe; (though we should live in awe) but a faith that surrenders all, stands on His word alone, and cries alleluia even when you can’t see, or feel. He is looking for a faith that works (obeys) through love.
