Only

“This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.”  Matthew 12:24

Only – How do you recognize the power of God?  How do you know when something is God’s handiwork?  The religious leaders of Jesus’ day thought they knew the answer to this question.  They believed that God acted according to their understanding.  And when Jesus did things that did not fit, they had only one recourse – to blame it on the Devil.  They couldn’t see God’s work because they wanted a God who could be controlled.

Have you ever considered just how dangerous God is?  He will not be boxed in!  Back Him up against the sea; He parts the waters.  Put His honor at stake on an altar; He consumes it with fire.  Confront Him with death; He commands the body to come forth.  God’s power is scary.  But it is also frightening in another way.  God doesn’t always do what we think He should do.  Children die.  Disasters happen.  His Son hangs on the cross.  God seems absent.  In the midst of terrible trials, we don’t see Him act on our behalf.  The danger with God is that He does things for His own purposes and He is not required to share those with us. 

We could be left in the same place as the Pharisees.  We can limit God to the power structures we understand and claim that anything that doesn’t fit is a sign of evil, or we can take the position that Jesus took:  a relationship of trust.  Trust means that I deliberately put my confidence in God no matter what the world is shouting about power symbols.  Even when God doesn’t seem to be there.  Why?  Because I have a history with Him.  Because I have spent time with Him.  Because I know that even if He doesn’t show up to rescue me this time, He is still Who He says He is:  compassionate, showing lovingkindness to generations, slow to anger and full of grace.

The Pharisees, ancient or modern, cannot come to terms with the way God acts because they do not know Him.  They have plenty of facts but they don’t have God-shaped hearts.  It’s really that simple.  If you have spent enough time in His presence, you know His character.  The dangerous God is the same God Who will never forsake you – His way.