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By Mike Caton

John 8:45-46, “Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?”

There is an old saying, A lie can get half way around the world before the truth can get its shoes on. Why is it that untruths get spread so much faster than the truth? Why is the truth so unappealing to some folks, they had rather believe and repeat the lie. Maybe there are several reasons for this: the lie is more attractive, the lie requires less action, the lie is what you want to believe, the lie validates what you are already doing, and so forth.

Jesus was really not asking these Jews to believe anything different, he was teaching them about the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets. He was showing them, not just telling them, that he was the promised Messiah. (He has not said it that directly yet, but that is the basis of his message.) But these folks appear to be comfortable in their expectations, they are not ready for the reality. Can they prove Jesus guilty of any wrongdoing, of any sin, of anything? Of course not. So the question is, why don’t you believe what Jesus is telling you? What reason do you have to doubt his word, other than you simply do not want to believe?

And let’s be careful here. Those of us who have been Christians for most of our lives are usually pretty set in what we believe. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. God’s word does not change. But our understanding, our knowledge, should be constantly expanding. We have a challenge this year at church to read the whole Bible. And I guarantee, if you will take that challenge, you will learn something new, you will read something maybe you have not read before, you will see something in a new light, your faith will grow. But you have to be willing to listen, to learn, and to grow.

Father, help me increase my faith. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you enjoy these weekly devotions and would like to know more about Bible reading challenge, email mikecaton@centurylink.net for a copy of the reading schedule. In a nutshell, if you read three chapters of the Bible a day, in a year you will have read through the whole book.

Mike Caton is the preacher at Mount Olive Church of Christ in Belhaven. He volunteers at the Ponzer Fire Department and works part time with Hyde County EMS. If you would like to receive daily devotions in your inbox, email mikecaton@centurylink.net.

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