Are You Looking for a Sign?

Trafalgar Square in London a prominent sign in the city.

     As I was reading Scripture this morning, the thought occurred to me that so often I am like Moses...praying and praying but not stepping out in faith as I should.  You remember, I am certain, when Moses stood praying over the Red Sea and the Lord told him to stop praying and stretch out his staff and the sea parted.  I love the Lord!  He is so to the point in what He does.  I, too, sometimes get caught up in praying and looking for a sign from God that I forget to just take action.  We all know people like that.  We have all heard someone say:  "I'd believe in God if He paid off all my bills or if I won the lottery...OR...I'd believe in God if He would heal me completely from this illness."  However, Jesus had an answer for those who sought a sign.
     Look at Luke 11:14-23.  Read the whole passage to get the context here.  Jesus was casting out a demon from a mute man who was able to speak once the demon left.  Well...the unbelieving crowd said that Jesus had done that by the power of Satan.  Others in the crowd told Jesus they wanted a sign from heaven in order to believe.  Ahhh...but Jesus knew their hearts.

A sign indicating the crown jewels at the Tower of London

     He pointed out that no kingdom divided against itself can ever stand.  Why would Satan cast one of his own demons out?  Verse 23 shows the understanding Jesus had of the people in the crowd:  "He who is not with Me is against Me, and He who does not gather with Me scatters."
     Finally in verse 29, Jesus summed up all that He was trying to tell this crowd about belief and signs:
"This is an evil generation.  It seeks a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet."  In the verses following, Jesus goes on to foretell His death and resurrection.
     With all that He said, Jesus hit the nail on the head with the crowd.  The people around Him were just looking for a show...yet they had just witnessed a miracle in front of their eyes and yet were unwilling to believe.  They weren't willing to take Jesus on faith and put their trust in who He was.  As Christians, we too can demand signs in our life.  Oh, we give them a different name.  We don't call them signs, but we call them "fleeces".  They are little tests to see what God wants us to do.  Yet, God has given us His Word and His Spirit.  We are told to put on the mind of Christ through prayer and study of the Word.  So why do we seek signs?  When will we trust Him as we ought?
     What has God called us to do?  Our responsibility is to believe the testimony that has been provided in the Bible, to trust in Jesus our Lord and to obey our God (see John 3:36; I John 2:3-6 and 5:1-13).  We do not need signs when we have the assurance He is with us.  We don't need something to pop up in front of us and say - "Go this way."  God, our Sovereign Lord, who knows our beginning and our end will direct our steps as we are moving in faith.  Therefore we must quit looking for signs and start moving in the Lord.  As we step out, He will direct our us in our way.  Selah!


I welcome your thoughts and insights on the this topic.  Your comments can bless and encourage others including me!