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Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Lessons I Learned at Bethany: Faith

One morning, walking from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry. He saw a fig tree with leaves, and found nothing but leaves.  Jesus said to the fig tree, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.” 
Bethany (Al-Eizariya) in 1940
The next morning, his disciples saw that the tree was dried up from the roots. Peter said, “Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.” Jesus said, “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”  
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is just as powerful as He was 2000 years ago, and His word is just as true now as it was then. Believe that He is able! Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  The Bible says those who come to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” 
If you have problems in your life, if there are mountains before you that you see no way of climbing, if you have difficulties that you can see no way around and life just doesn’t make sense, start praying! The eyes of the Lord Jesus run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. The unjust judge didn’t even care about the widow, yet he gave her justice. God is just, good, merciful, and loving toward us. Surely we can believe that He will answer our pleas. 

 Have faith in God! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is just as powerful as He was 2000 years ago, and His word is just as true.

42 comments:

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    1. We drive by them quite frequently; I finally got to stop and take pictures!

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  2. Amen! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and FOREVER! Your post was beautifully written and the words are an inspiration to all!

    Hugs to you!

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  3. Bethany it is very interesting post. But the most important sentence in my life :Never give up... Life is not always easy there are ups and downs which we have to defeat...

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    1. Exactly. Life's not easy, but we have to keep pressing on!

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  4. WoW...beautiful bridges and landscape!!!

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  5. Love the boardwalk walkways!! And the lush greenery for backdrop.

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    1. Yes...one of these days I want to follow that trail just to see where it ends, as I believe some old songs lyrics say.

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  6. Thank you for your wise words and beautiful photos! I really like the parable of the judge.

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  7. Lovely post and beautiful photos, Bethany. Thanks for sharing this with us!

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  8. Thank you for this great reminder! And your photos are gorgeous!

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  9. Very encouraging post!! Instead of losing hope we need to to come to Him with our pile of impossibles and see how He can make them possibles for His glory!

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  10. A beautiful post filled with so much truth. When I was having trouble with my oldest son, I felt like that woman going to the judge every day, and I'd think, "Maybe I'll wear God out with my requests and he will help my son just to shut me up." Eventually, my son did get help and I have been so grateful ever since.

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    1. Praise the Lord! Glad to hear it worked out for your son!

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  11. Lovely photos and such a beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  12. Your photos are beautiful, but I really appreciate what you said. Good reminder, all true!

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  13. Very well said. It gives me great comfort in knowing that God is unchanging and so merciful. He is perfect in every way... :)

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    1. Yes, and even though He is perfect, great, and good He cares about us even in our imperfection.

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  14. Beautifully written! I can't tell you how much encouragement this gave me today and how up-building it is at a time I needed to read this. I love that you included the bible account as well. So wonderful to reread that♥

    Blessings, Bethany. I hope you have a wonderful day!
    And lovely photos, by the way :)

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    1. Glad it was encouraging to you Jazzmin! Blessings to you as well!

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  15. A good a true word, Bethany. His word will not return void. I've often wondered about the fig tree. After all, it wasn't it's fault it had no figs. The scripture tells us it wasn't the season for figs. I've decided that Christ simply used it as an example. And I dare say, if the fig tree has feelings, it would be well-pleased to be made an example of by it's Creator. A powerful message of the authority Jesus has over all creation. Have a blessed week! PS I enjoy your posts very much, and don't get over here as often as I would like :)

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    1. That's an interesting thought, June! It's probably a better remembered fig tree than any of its contemporaries!

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  16. Beautiful post with lovely images...love that great bridge!

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  17. This morning one of the Scriptures I read was about Jesus cursing the fig tree! I appreciate your encouraging view in this post, Bethany. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever: all powerful, all knowing, all mighty...Love. Life is amazing as I trust in Him! Thanks for posting.

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  18. I am thankful/grateful that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! I can't imagine life without Him.

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