Proverbs 27:5-6

Devotional Thoughts

By David Wilkerson

Do you ever wonder why the disciples were so ignorant of the ways of Christ and the eternal purposes of God? Why, after three years of sitting under the blessed preaching of the Savior of the world, they remained blind, unprepared for the things to come? Why was their understanding of the cross and the resurrection so limited?

It was because they did not hear with faith! On several occasions Jesus had to rebuke them: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25).

“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). They had little faith — hearts that were slow to believe his Word. And they were left empty, unprepared, confused — blinded by unbelief!

If Jesus marveled at the unbelief of the disciples during his time on earth, what must he think of us today? Nineveh repented after only one sermon, believing every word Jonah preached. Yet America has heard thousands of such warnings from many prophets, but multitudes of so-called Spirit-filled believers do not heed them. They say, “I don’t want to hear that anymore.” And then they just put it all out of mind!

How much of what you have heard do you remember? How deeply has it worked into your spiritual fiber? If God’s Word is not assimilated by faith — if we do not ask him in faith to help us receive and use it — we will end up picking and choosing only what we like. And we usually pick the blessings, mercies and comforts and shake off the demands, reproofs and warnings.

Trust makes God’s Word work its way into our spirit. And faith stamps it into our personality and minds so that it is never forgotten.