Photo by Robert Vergeson on Unsplash
For me, 2025 began with a challenge from the Lord. Will you surrender? It has been an interesting journey, and if you haven’t followed along, you may agree with me after reading the previous posts.
However, I have been presented with a new challenge in surrendering to God. I have walked with God my entire life, having been dedicated to Him before I was born. So…my surrendering is more than saying, Yes, Jesus, I will follow you.
But first, a brief backstory
I am cautious about saying to people, you should or should not do something (unless the something is a matter of sin) because I do not know if it is the Father’s plan for them.
For example, I am cautious about saying, You should watch the program, The Chosen. I watch it because I like the picture it paints of the (potential) life of Jesus as a human.
Others may disagree and be offended by it. Therefore, I would not recommend watching it.
But my challenge came while watching an episode of The Chosen.
Here’s the Biblical account:
“Early the next morning Jesus was returning to the city. He was hungry.
Seeing a lone fig tree alongside the road, he approached it, anticipating a breakfast of figs. When he got to the tree, there was nothing but fig leaves. He said, “No more figs from this tree – ever!” The fig tree withered on the spot, a dry stick.
The disciples saw it happen. They rubbed their eyes, saying, “Did we really see this? A leafy tree one minute, a dry stick the next?”
But Jesus was matter-of-fact: “Yes – and if you embrace this kingdom life and don’t doubt God, you’ll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you’ll tell, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it will jump.
Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God.”
Matthew 21:18-22 The Message
Keep in mind that I have walked with God my entire life. I understand the concept of faith and believing in God.
The power of Jesus’ words spoken over the fig tree did not capture me—although it is a powerful lesson.
The disbelief of the disciples did not capture me–although it is a powerful lesson that following Jesus alone is not enough.
What captured me was Jesus’ response.
The Message translation says he was “matter-of-fact.”
He wasn’t suggesting it might be a good idea, nor was he saying perhaps you should pay attention to this.
Jesus said, Listen now, and listen well.
“If (keyword) you embrace this kingdom life…”
He is talking with his disciples who left everything to follow him, and he says IF.
Why?
If represents a choice, it means a decision must be made, and each of his disciples had made that decision.
However, the decision to embrace the kingdom life alone is not enough, and I speculate that Jesus was referring to Judas at this point (although the Bible does not explicitly state this).
Once you embrace the kingdom life, you must choose to “don’t doubt God.”
In other words, embracing the kingdom of life alone will not give you the staying power to walk with God through the hardships of life.
In my opinion, The Chosen program painted a believable picture of how Judas embraced the kingdom life, but failed to believe Jesus.
He had an idea of what Messiah would be and what he would do. Seeing this potential in Jesus helped him embrace the kingdom life.
However, he could not let go of his belief in the Father’s plans for Jesus.
I some (perhaps many) ways, Judas describes us. Seeing the potential of Jesus, we embrace the kingdom life; however, our beliefs hinder us from fully embracing the Father’s plans.
My challenge?
While watching this episode, I was challenged by God the Holy Spirit, Do you believe?
I have embraced the kingdom life, but do I still doubt (or not believe) God’s plans for my life?
It is a thought-provoking question, and it prompts me to embark on a journey to discover the answer.
Here’s why it is important
Jesus said, “You’ll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles.”
Minor feats
To me, minor feats are like praying for (and finding) a parking space close to the entrance (or in Florida, in the shade).
It is like praying for my stomach not to hurt because I overate.
But Jesus calls, speaking to a tree, and it withers to death, a minor feat.
Oh my gosh, do I believe, or do I doubt?
A story in the New Testament Gospel of Mark speaks about an encounter Jesus has with a father whose son is possessed by a demon.
Here is the account:
“He asked, “What’s going on? What’s all the commotion?”
A man out of the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you.
Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn’t.”
Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.”
They brought him. When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a seizure, causing him to writhe on the ground and foam at the mouth.
He asked the boy’s Father, “How long has this been going on?”
Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”
Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the Father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”
Mark 9:16-24 The Message
Jesus’ response to the Father’s plea was a profound answer.
“If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”
In other words, do you believe, or do you doubt?
The Father’s response is priceless.
“Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”
The Father’s answer is to stop along the way in my journey because I acknowledge my doubts to the Father, and I look for his answers to build my faith in him.
Triumph over huge obstacles
However, embracing the kingdom life and believing God positions me for greater things.
Jesus points to the surrounding Judean mountains, saying,
“This mountain, for instance, you’ll tell, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it will jump.”
The Father desires that Christ-followers walk in that kind of belief.
Jesus concluded his lesson by saying,
“Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God.”
This is why my title says,
Do you believe?
Read this before you answer
I confess that I do not have that kind of belief, which is why I have been challenged by God the Holy Spirit to believe.
Join me on this most excitingly scary journey.