God Still Works

Main Idea: Even in the midst of difficulty, God is still at work.
Mark 15.39 (CSB): When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Devotional: Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he was asked for signs to prove that he was the Son of God (Mark 8.11-12). This same request was mockingly repeated while Jesus was hanging on the Cross. The people and religious leaders said: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the Cross, so that we may see and believe.” (Mark 15.31b-32a).
 
The sad reality, however, is that they would not have believed him even if he had come down from the Cross. How do I know? They had seen him work for the previous three years and still did not believe. Another sad reality is this: Many times, it was a non-Jew who recognized who Jesus was before the Jewish people did (including his own disciples).
 
Consider today’s verse. The Roman Solider saw how Jesus died and professed the reality of who Jesus was. He did not see the feeding of the four thousand (Matthew 15.32-39). He did not see the healing of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years (Mark 5.25-34). But he did see "the way he breathed his last."
 
The truth is, God was at work in the heart and mind of this Roman Solider during the darkest hour of human history. Likewise, God is still at work even in the midst of the difficulty we face to 1) bring people to himself and 2) mold and shape us into the image of our Lord Jesus.
 
Friend, God still works. He will not waste our suffering. Be reminded of Paul’s words in Romans 8:28: "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." 

For Reflection...
 
-Have you previously viewed difficulty as an opportunity for growth? Why or why not?
 
-How do you think God can work in your current difficulty to grow you?

Our God does not waste anything.
-Bill Miller