"The Unbelief of the People"

  "But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

  "LORD, who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm?"

 But the people couldn't believe, for as Isaiah also said,

  "The LORD has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts - so that their eyes cannot see, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and have me heal them." 

 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah's glory. Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn't admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God. 

 Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are trusting not just me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in men will no longer remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear me but don't obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."" (John 12:37-50 NLT)

 "I cried out, "I am slipping!" but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." (Psalm 94:18-19 NLT)

 Maybe you have been there, in this place of discouragement and doubt? It really doesn't take much to cause you to slip, a little fear of where you, verses where you think you should be, could be just enough to cause you to think that there is no hope, bringing you into a state of despair and feeling of unbelief. 

 There is something that John points out, many of us forget to pay attention to, even though it should be abundantly clear: "For they loved human praise more than the praise of God." I reckon that most of the things that make us like to be accepted in this world, they are the things that seem to provide the kind of hope which is temporary and has a present connection; something we can feel today. 

 How many times have you heard this? "Love is not about feelings!" I know it might be hard to make that a choice, but real love is about sacrifice and commitment...

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NLT)