2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 1 Samuel 24:1-25:44 ESV, John 10:22-42 ESV, Psalm 116:1-19 ESV, Proverbs 15:20-21 ESV
Daily Verse: “So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10:24 ESV)
AIRO (142) + PSUCHE (5590): “Airo; a prim. Verb; to lift; by impl. To take up or away; fig. to raise (the voice), keep in suspense. As applied to the mind, to suspend, to keep in suspense.[i] Psuche refers to breath, the breath of life, that vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing. The (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life. The soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death.”[ii]
Take away breath.
Think of the last time you experienced suspense. Watching “The Thing About Pam”[i] on Hulu held my breath as the murder story unfolded. Suspenseful moments take away our breath. When I attempt to hit a golf ball, I feel the same thing; the suspense of whether I will hit it stops me from breathing.
In the Jews’ case, they wanted to know the identification of Jesus. From Jesus’ ministry, their question remains pivotal to the tale. The disciples made their decision, but the Jews hadn’t. Even watching Jesus’ miracles performed from front row seats, they still didn’t believe in His divinity.
Greater than all.
As Jesus addresses the Jews, He confronts their unbelief.
‘but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.” (John 10:26 ESV)
One part of faith you cannot change; you must believe in the unknown. God doesn’t give us all the answers to life. Instead, Jesus asks us to trust Him.
Every day, “Why God?” questions happen. Why, God, did the tragedy occur? Why, God, did they get a discouraging diagnosis? Why, God, didn’t you heal my child? Only God knows the answers; our heavenly Father reveals them to us in His time.
Volunteering with children helps me remember to have childlike faith. As I listened to sweet Juliet, a third-grader, recite the Lord’s prayer over the class, my heart filled with hope. Children believe without questioning God’s goodness; they don’t doubt His existence, trusting Jesus completely. We should do the same.
Breath freely, knowing Jesus holds you in His hands. God’s Son existed on earth and lives in heaven, watching over us, praying for us, protecting us until the day He calls us home.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 7) Thomas Nelson
[ii] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 275) Thomas Nelson
[i] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13984270/
