Jesus began to reproach the towns
where most of his mighty deeds had been done,
since they had not repented.
When we see the power of Jesus we are obligated to respond. We can't go on eating, drinking, and being merry as if nothing is different. It is not business as usual anymore. Jesus calls for more than a mere course correction. He changes the destination entirely. He is not just another piece of information, or another episode of the same show we are watching. He is new. But the fact is even the faithful get used to Jesus. We become accustomed to the mighty deeds he does. It seems normal to us that people can live in the freedom of the Holy Spirit. We forget that it is only by his touch that we receive that freedom.
When word came to the house of David that Aram
was encamped in Ephraim,
the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled,
as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind.
When we find ourselves shaken by the world we realize that we haven't really responded to Jesus as fully as we should. We haven't fully appreciated what we have in him. Jesus conquered the ruler of this world. He made a show of the principalities and powers. He himself lives inside us. What can man do against us? Yet we fear. From fear we are called to look again to Jesus. We are called to look and to not look away. We must look at him and not the waves. Then we shall stand firm.
Unless your faith is firm
you shall not be firm!
Faith is our response to who Jesus is. It is the secret to having peace no matter the circumstance. It is the secret to answered prayer.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (see James 1:6-8).
When we trust in the LORD he is completely and utterly reliable.
God is with her castles;
renowned is he as a stronghold.
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