Missing Pieces

“And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.” Matthew 11:6 NASB

Isolated. In prison. For doing the right thing.

The hope of the coming Messiah had blazed like a torch as John the Baptist called Israel to repentance. One is coming whose sandals I’m not worthy to untie. I baptize with water. He will baptize—with fire.

People flocked. Businessmen. Housewives. Soldiers. Prostitutes. Priests.

Then one day, He came.

Waving aside John’s protests, Jesus was baptized. A voice thundered from heaven. Feathers fluttered. John had seen it all.

And now? John struggled.

“Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?”

Though these are the words recorded in Matthew 11, I’m not sure that was really John’s question. I think John struggled with missing pieces. Miracles. Check. Fulfilled prophecy. Check. Kingdom? Nope. Deliverance from their enemies? Nope. What was really going on?

I get John, because right now, I’m struggling too.

My theology class—on salvation, no less—is shaking me. Nothing adds up. Total depravity. Election. God’s goodness. I’m missing some pieces. Scripture explains Scripture—until it doesn’t.

I still trust God. Really, I do. But I have questions that Scripture doesn’t answer. And I think John did too. Some pieces are missing for both of us.

Note Jesus’ answer, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

“Don’t stumble over Me” is how my version reads.

Know this.

We will have struggles.

We will have doubts.

We will have questions.

Just remember, we don’t have all the info. If the pieces don’t fit, it’s because we’re missing a few. Click To TweetOne day, the puzzle will be complete. Until then, we look at the empty spaces, scratch our heads, and trust His goodness.

Workout for the Week: Missing Pieces

Memory Verse: “And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.” Matthew 11:6 NASB

Meditation Passage: Matthew 11:1-6

Just Do It: Don’t stumble.

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