Take away doubt

"How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." (John 10v24)
Do we want certainties in our lives rather than having to deal with uncertainties and doubts?
The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is strong, so we are not called to make some kind of leap of faith into the dark. There is evidence to show that faith in Jesus is reasonable.
But life is an adventure with a need for faith, trust.
This is the basis for all relationships.
Jesus response to the request that he take away any doubts about who he is to to offer not proofs but a living relationship with himself.
Jesus’ resurrection opens to us an adventure in relationships. Because he is alive now, we can share our lives with him.
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.”

A relationship with Jesus is what we need, not proofs

Compare human relationships, where we move beyond proofs to love.
Once we know someone well we should be able to move on from always being unsure of them. When I was away for a few days last week in Brittany I wasn’t worrying what my wife was doing in my absence. If you came and told me she’d been up to no good while I was away I wouldn’t believe you, because I know and trust her. I don’t need proofs of her fidelity. Intellectually I can see why doubts would be possible (after all there is so much infidelity around), but our relationship is such that we’ve moved beyond the doubts about whether we love each other which were there when our relationship was beginning.

The relationship with Jesus calls for our commitment

”My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” says Jesus.
We are invited by Jesus to follow him as sheep in his day followed their shepherd. Thye get to know & recognise and to trust the voice of their shepherd.
Communication is vital to relationships. Failure of communication is the commonest reason for the breakup of marriages. The need for communication is true of our relationship with God through Jesus too. How can we learn to communicate with God better?

• Read the bible to listen to God in Jesus through the Spirit.
• Pray – listening for God to put his thoughts into our minds as well as talking to him about what concerns us.
• Because Jesus is alive we can have an intimate relationship with him.

Jesus does offer us security

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”
Jesus promises that he will never let go of us. In case we are unsure of that he emphasises his oneness with God who is so great that nobody can break our relationship with him.
Jesus wants us to have an assurance of his love. I f you do not have that, please do talk to me or to other Christians about how you can enter into such an assurance.
Our security is based, not on proofs, but on our relationship with him.
So let us enjoy our relationship with God & make it our priority.