The Truth

Tag: Love the Lord

  • THE PERFECT GOD AND THE IMPERFECT VESSEL

    The perfect God, whose throne is established in holiness and light, has chosen the imperfect to serve the All-Perfect One.

    As the Apostle Paul writes, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

    You may feel inadequate, fragile, and unworthy, yet in His divine mercy, He sees beyond your weaknesses, calls you His own, and begins His transforming work within you.

    He is the God who stoops down to the lowest places. Long before you knew how to reach for Him, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of His people” (Psalm 113:7–8).

    You may have felt buried beneath the weight of your own limitations, trapped in a pit of pain and despair. Even when your voice failed and you could not cry out, His eyes never left you. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). He saw every hidden tear, every silent struggle, and reached deep into the mire to pull you out, setting your feet upon a rock (Psalm 40:2).

    Within your soul burns a quiet desire to do greater things for Him, to offer a life of purpose, power, and glory to His name. Yet you look back and feel as though you have not done enough. Do not let condemnation weigh heavily on your heart, for “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). God does not measure your worth by the greatness of your past achievements, but He delights in a heart that turns toward Him in faith and obedience. “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zechariah 4:10).

    You love Him deeply, yet you often feel that you have not fully expressed that love, held back by fear, hesitation, or the weight of your own unworthiness. But remember this: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Your love for Him, even when expressed through quiet obedience and unspoken longing, is precious before Him. He is not asking you to become flawless before you serve Him; He asks for a willing and surrendered heart.

    “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

    The hands that lifted you from the pit have not released you. The God who found you in your brokenness is the same God who can use your life for His glory.

    Do not wait until you feel worthy. Do not wait until you feel strong. Come as you are, surrender what you have, and let Him do through you what you could never accomplish by your own strength.

    For the vessel does not make the Potter perfect, but the Potter makes the vessel useful.

    And when God chooses an imperfect vessel, His glory is revealed not in the vessel itself, but in the One who fills it.

  • GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD

    “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”

    (Mark 16:15).

    The mission given by our Lord Jesus Christ is not confined to a particular nation, community, congregation, family, or select group of people. Our vision must reach beyond the boundaries we can see. Our target must be the entire world.

    The Gospel is for every creature.

    There are souls everywhere who are searching for hope, longing for peace, carrying wounds that nobody can see, and walking through darkness without knowing where to turn. Some may never enter a church. Some may never open a Bible. Some may never hear a sermon from a pulpit.

    But they can encounter Christ through a word spoken in love, a life lived in obedience, a helping hand, a testimony, a message, or someone who is willing to carry the Gospel beyond familiar boundaries.

    The Lord Jesus did not come into this world merely to reach a comfortable few. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. 

    “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

    Christ’s eyes were always upon souls

    The earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ gives us a pattern that cannot be ignored.

    He went among the people. He saw the multitudes. He listened to the broken. He touched the rejected. He welcomed the forgotten. He taught those who were hungry for truth. He comforted those who were grieving. He healed the sick and strengthened the weak.

    He did not see people merely according to their social position, wealth, reputation, or status.

    He saw souls.

    When He looked upon the multitude, He was moved with compassion. “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

    When we look at the world, do we see only people or do we see souls that Christ loves?

    He fed both body and soul. Lord Jesus cared about people’s physical needs, but He never neglected their spiritual needs.

    He fed the hungry, yet He also taught them the Word of God. He healed the sick, yet He called people to repentance and faith. He comforted the brokenhearted, yet He directed them toward the Father.

    The Lord Jesus said: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

    Food can sustain the body for a day. The Word of God can lead a soul toward eternal life.

    He glorified the Father. Throughout His earthly ministry, Lord Jesus continually directed attention to His Father. He did not seek His own glory. His life was an offering of obedience.

    Whatever work God has placed before us, our ultimate purpose should not be to make our own name great. It should be to glorify His Name.

    Our ministry, our words, our gifts, our resources, our time, and even our daily conduct should point people toward Christ. 

    The hidden strength behind His public ministry was a life of prayer. After ministering to the multitudes, Lord Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to seek His Father. “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed” (Luke 5:16). 

    “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).

    The One who had spent the day teaching, healing, comforting, travelling, answering questions, and ministering to people still made time to be alone with the Father. His public strength was connected to His private communion with God.

    We cannot effectively carry God’s message to the world while neglecting our own relationship with God. Before we speak to people about the Father, we must learn to spend time speaking with the Father.

    The Lord Jesus looked at the multitudes and said:

    The harvest is great but the labourers are few.

    The world is still full of souls. Our responsibility is not necessarily to stand before thousands.

    We may begin with one person. One soul matters to God.

    One encouraging word may prevent someone from giving up. One testimony may awaken faith. One act of kindness may open a heart. One Scripture may remain in someone’s mind for years. One person who faithfully shares Christ may become the instrument through which another person encounters the Gospel.

    We must therefore never underestimate what God can do through a willing servant.

    Let us not make the Gospel smaller than Christ made it.

    We must look beyond just our neighborhood, friends, those who already agree with us, or those who are easy to reach.

    The Gospel crosses borders, languages, cultures, and social boundaries because the love of Christ is not confined by the boundaries created by humanity.

    Are we willing to go?

    The world does not merely need more religious words. It needs people whose lives demonstrate that they have encountered Christ.

    We are called to go, speak, serve, love, pray, encourage, teach, and testify.

    Prophet Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord:

    “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

    And he answered:

    “Lord, here am I. Send me” (Isaiah 6:8).

  • THE SOVEREIGN KING

    No earthly throne can match His height,

    No mortal judge can twist the right.

    The God of gods, the Lord of all,

    Before whose throne the mighty fall.

    He takes no bribe, He shows no grace

    To status, power, or pride of place.

    The great, the awesome God of might,

    Who rules with justice in His sight.

    “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.”

    (Psalms 147:5)

    “It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.” (Jeremiah 10:12)

    “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” (Isaiah 40:28)

    “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. (Jeremiah 32:17)

    “The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.” (Exodus 15:3)

    “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.” ( Exodus 15:6)

    “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

  • THE BATTLE WITHIN

    There is a battle that cannot always be seen by human eyes. It is not fought with swords, armies, or earthly weapons. It is fought within the heart of man.

    The Apostle Paul speaks with remarkable honesty in Romans 7:15–17: “What I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

    These words reveal something every believer must understand: knowing the will of God and obeying the will of God are not always the same thing.

    A person may know what is right and still struggle to do it. He may hate sin and yet find himself falling into temptation. He may desire holiness and still discover weakness within himself.

    The Apostle Paul says: “If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.”

    The problem is not God’s law. God’s commandment is good because God is good. “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12). God’s Word does not create the sin within us; it exposes what is already there. Hebrews 4:12 declares: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.” When God’s Word enters our hearts, it shows us not merely what we want others to see, but who we truly are before God.

    The Apostle Paul says: “What I hate, that do I.” He acknowledges his weakness with humility, and that is where spiritual healing begins. He who comes before God and says, “Lord, search me, reveal me, cleanse me, and change me,” has opened his heart to the work of grace. King David prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:23). True spirituality is bringing our struggles into the presence of God.

    The Apostle Paul says: “Sin that dwelleth in me.” In Romans 6:14, he later declares: “For sin shall not have dominion over you.” We are not strong enough to defeat sin. Christ is stronger than the sin that is fighting against us. Lord Jesus said: “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Our victory does not come from trusting our own strength. It comes from abiding in Christ.

    Are you struggling with sin or making peace with it?

    If you have sinned, then you must repent. You must return to Christ. “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverbs 24:16). “When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me” (Micah 7:8).

    You may have been experiencing a painful struggle, making you wonder whether you truly belong to God and why you are still fighting this battle. The Christian life involves warfare. Galatians 5:17 says: “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” But the Holy Spirit works within us, teaching us, correcting us, strengthening us, and leading us toward holiness. Therefore, when you recognize the battle within, do not run away from God, but run toward Him. When you face weakness, temptation, or moments of doubt and shame, turn immediately to Christ for strength.

    Do not hide from the Physician. Go to the Physician. Lord Jesus said: “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick” (Matthew 9:12).

    The Lord Jesus Christ is more real than our weaknesses. His grace outlasts our failures, His mercy covers our shame, and His power is greater than any temptation. Whenever we stumble, His strong hand is always ready to lift us back up. Therefore, do not trust yourself, but trust the Living Christ.

    The Lord told the Apostle Paul: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

    Abide in Christ. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

    For the battle is not ultimately won by the strength of the man who fights. It is won by the grace of the Christ who lives in him.

  • WHAT IS SIN?

    No, not one is good. No one is perfect. All are sinners.

    Sin is lawlessness and disobedience to God. “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). God establishes what is right and holy. When we knowingly reject His command, we sin.

    Sin is falling short of God’s glory. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

    Every time we commit sin, we crucify the Lamb. Sin is not merely breaking a rule; it is failing to live according to the holiness and righteousness God desires. Sin can be knowing the right thing and refusing to do it. “Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

    Sin can be what we do, but it can also be what we deliberately refuse to do when God has shown us what is right. When we miss the prayer hour and fail to wait at His feet, we sin.

    Sin can begin in the heart. The Lord Jesus taught that evil actions proceed from within the human heart (Mark 7:20–23). That means sin is not restricted to outward actions. Pride, hatred, envy, lust, deceit, unforgiveness, and evil desires can also be sinful.

    Sin is choosing our will over God’s will. Our Lord Jesus prays: “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). A person is considered good if he loves God, trusts Him, and submits his will to His. 

    The Lord Jesus was tempted, yet He was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Sin occurs when temptation is welcomed, entertained, consented to, or acted upon. “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:14).

    Sin separates you from God: “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2).

    God does not merely expose sin; He provides salvation from sin through Jesus Christ. “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

    And: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

    Sin is choosing our own way instead of God’s way, whether through our thoughts, desires, words, actions, or deliberate refusal to do what God has revealed as right. And repentance is turning away from that path and turning back to God.

    If one commits sin repeatedly, God will surely bring punishment. He will try to correct you, speak to you in your mind, and convict you that you are wrong; but if you repeatedly refuse to pay heed, you are inviting disaster into your life.

    “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:7, 8).

  • THE VOICE OF YAHWEH AND THE WEIGHT OF OBEDIENCE

    “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

    In Numbers 20:7–8, the Lord spoke to Moses: “Take the staff, and gather the assembly together, you and Aaron your brother. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water.”

    God did not ask Moses to raise his hand. He did not ask him to strike the rock as he had years before at Horeb. He gave a precise, specific command: Speak to the rock.

    When the trial is looming before you, when the situation is parched, dry, and impossible, God does not ask for your human effort, your past methods, or your frustration. He asks for your obedience. Speak to the rock. Speak to the mountain. Though it stands high, firm, and unyielding, if you speak the word God commands, the mountain itself will crack, displace, and yield.

    Yet, Moses did not speak. In a moment of haste, pressure, and lingering frustration with a rebellious crowd, Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod.

    To human eyes, striking a rock instead of speaking to it seems like a minor oversight, a small mistake born of impatience. After all, water still gushed forth! The people drank. Their thirst was quenched. The ministry seemed successful on the outside. God, in His mercy, still satisfied the needs of His people; He did not forsake them in that moment.

    But in the sacred alignment between God and His prophet, something fundamental was broken.

    Moses had walked with God. He had spoken to Him face to face as a man speaks to his friend. He had demonstrated God’s power in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Because of that close intimacy, Moses was held to a higher standard. His gesture was not a harmless misstep; it was an act of public disobedience and overconfidence that dishonored the sanctity of Yahweh.

    God told Moses immediately after: “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them”(Numbers 20:12).

    One act of disobedience kept the great deliverer from stepping into the Promised Land.

    From the Garden of Eden to the wilderness of Zin, the primary sin that fractures the relationship between God and humanity has always been disobedience. One disobedience brought a curse upon Adam’s lineage. One disobedience kept Moses from Canaan.

    Where, then, do we stand? We who have disobeyed not once, not twice, but countless times?

    We often treat God with casual familiarity, forgetting who He truly is. But our Lord is a serious God. When He speaks, He expects complete, unquestioning commitment and exact obedience.

    Consider the reality of His Presence. In the throne room of the Almighty, where His majesty extends into infinite height, there is a profound, terrifying silence. It is a quiet so absolute that it strips away all human pretense, pride, and excuses. And out of that holy stillness rings the thunderous voice of Yahweh, reminding us: He is a God to be feared, revered, and obeyed.

    If Moses who led millions out of bondage, through the parted waters, and into breakthrough was called to account for a single impulsive act, are we prepared to stand before Him today?

    We live in a time where grace is often mistaken for permission to compromise. God speaks once, and His words carry eternal weight. We cannot rely on human wisdom or counsel over the direct word of the Almighty.

    Despite hearing God’s voice face to face, Moses frequently sought and took organizational guidance from his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian.

    Even leaders, prophets, and faithful believers falter when they begin leaning on human advice over divine instruction. Human counsel may seem practical, logical, and efficient, but it can subtly shift our reliance away from the Spirit of God.

    We must return to a posture of total reliance on Yahweh: Men give advice based on logic; God gives commands based on His holiness and sovereign power. 

    Do not move, act, or strike until you have sought Him directly in prayer.

    God is not silent. He speaks through His Word, His Spirit, and His truth. When He gives a directive, our only response must be immediate, full compliance.

    If your time were up today and you were called to face the Great Yahweh, could your foundation stand?

    Do not let frustration drive your actions. Do not let past successes make you overconfident in current trials. When you face an impossible situation today, do not strike in anger or rely on human methods, do what the Lord asks you to do. If He says speak, then speak.

    Let us lay down our self-reliance, repent of our quiet disobedience, and restore a deep, holy reverence for the voice of Almighty God.

  • WALK AFTER THE LORD

    “Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deuteronomy 13:4).

    When you truly love God, you will desire to honour Him. When you honour Him, you will desire to obey Him. And when your heart is turned toward Him, you will begin to recognise His voice.

    The Christian life is not merely about knowing about God; it is about walking with God.

    We live in a world filled with noise—voices of temptation, pride, hatred, greed, fear, confusion and sin. Every day, countless voices compete for our attention. Yet, in the midst of all that noise, there is another voice—the voice of the One who created us, loves us and calls us to Himself.

    We need His guidance. Without the Lord directing our steps, how easily can we lose our way! We cannot successfully navigate this fallen and sinful world by human wisdom alone. We need God to guide our thoughts, our decisions, our relationships, our words and every step of our journey.

    The Scripture says:

    “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

    Therefore, humble yourself before Him. Hold on to Him. Cleave to Him. Seek His presence before seeking the approval of the world. And when you hold on to God, remember this: He is holding on to you.

    God deserves the first place in everything. The first portion belongs to Him. The first part of your day belongs to Him. Your very first thought in the morning is for Him. The first quiet moments of the day are His. The first true wish of your heart turns to Him. God remains the top priority of your life.

    Before the world begins speaking to us, let us learn to sit at the feet of Jesus. Before we reach for the things of this world, let us reach for the presence of God. Before we listen to the many voices around us, let us become still enough to hear the voice of our Creator.

    “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33)

    How precious it is to begin the day with God!

    The world may be sleeping, the streets may be quiet, and everything around us may be still—but the soul that loves God can already be awake in His presence.

    When the world is running after everything except God, we should be found at His feet.

    Like Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His word, may we learn that there are moments when the most important thing we can do is simply be still and listen.

    God is not confined to a particular hour, a particular day, or a particular place. He speaks through the quietness of the heart. 

    “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

    He Is Looking for a Heart That Will Wait.

    Hearing God’s voice is not merely about receiving a message. It is about developing a heart that is willing to obey.

    God desires a people who will seek Him—not only when they are in trouble, not only when they need a blessing, not only when they need an answer, but because they love Him.

    There is something precious about a soul that waits for God simply because it longs for God.

    “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him” (Psalm 62:5).

    To wait for God is an expression of love.

    When you love someone, you desire their presence. You listen for their voice. You look forward to being with them. So it should be with the Lord.

    Seek His face. Seek the Blesser. Seek the Giver.

    Come to Him because He is worthy of your love.

    Begin each day by saying:

    “Lord, before I hear the world, I want to hear You. Before I make my plans, I want to surrender them to You. Before I walk into this day, I want You to walk with me. Guide my steps. Guard my heart. Govern my words. Let me not live this day without You.”

    Will you love Him?

    The Lord is calling us deeper—not merely into religion, but into relationship; not merely into outward service, but into inward surrender.

    He wants a heart that says: “Lord, I am Yours.”

    A heart that will listen. A heart that will obey.

    A heart that will wait. A heart that will hold fast.

    A heart that will follow Him even when the path is difficult.

    Seek Him. Wait for Him. Walk after Him. Fear Him. Love Him. Hear His Word. Obey His voice.

    Hold fast to Him Keep His commandments.

    Serve Him.

    This is not merely a command for one moment of life. It is a way of life.

    Walk with Him in the morning. Walk with Him at noon. Walk with Him at night. Walk with Him when everything is going well. Walk with Him when everything seems to be falling apart. Walk with Him when you understand. Walk with Him when you do not understand. And when the world becomes dark and confusing, hold on to Him even more tightly.

    For the soul that has learned to love God, wait upon God, hear His Word and obey His voice has discovered something the world cannot give.

    The greatest victory is not conquering the world around you. The greatest victory is refusing to allow the world to conquer the God-given soul within you.

    So, will you begin your day with Him?

    Will you wait for Him?

    Will you listen?

    Will you obey?

    Will you love Him—not merely for what He can give you, but simply because He is God and He is worthy of your love?

    “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).

    And let God be first. Always. When the world is running after everything except God, we should be found at His feet.

    “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth” ( 1 Samuel 3:9 ).

  • HONOUR ONE ANOTHER

    “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-4).

    Human life possesses an inherent dignity that cannot be measured by status or achievement, because every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Therefore, how we treat others reflects our true relationship with God.

    We cannot genuinely love God while harboring hatred or speaking maliciously against those made in His image.

    Our words and emotions carry immense power to build up or destroy. Uncontrolled anger, pride, jealousy, and neglect frequently ruin families, break friendships, and prevent reconciliation. Yet Scripture calls us to be slow to anger, quick to seek forgiveness, and guarded against bitterness. Before judging or despising others, we must remember our own past failures and foolishness. We were not saved by our own righteousness, but by God’s abundant mercy and grace. Because the ground at the foot of the cross is level, we have no basis for spiritual superiority. The grace we have received from Christ must become the grace we extend to others.

    True discipleship is demonstrated through humility, kindness, and active forgiveness. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).

    Pride deadens relationships; genuine peace requires the strength to say, “I was wrong.”

    “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

    The grace that saves us must ultimately change us. Let your life reflect the gentleness, mercy, and love that God has shown to you.

  • I AM THINE, AND THOU ART MINE

    You dwell amidst the fire, and fire Thou art.

    You dwell amidst the light, and light Thou art.

    The majestic throne-room of Thine,

    with its infinitely great height,

    cannot be fathomed by mortal understanding.

    Yet amidst all Thy majesty,

    there is a silence that none can comprehend.

    I have been Thy companion

    from the beginning of time.

    I am Thine, and Thou art mine.

    Thou art the Comforter of the comfortless—

    but who is there to comfort Thee?

    The silence has surrounded Thee,

    and the tears of Thy heart have fallen.

    I am Thy companion from the beginning

    and shall remain with Thee unto the end.

    Thy abundant wealth and treasures

    have never been able to gladden Thy heart.

    Thou hast searched far and wide

    through Thy vast empire,

    yet Thou hast not found

    the companion of Thy heart’s choosing.

    Lo, here I am.

    I am here to be with Thee,

    now and forever.

    Thy heart is grief-stricken,

    for Thy children know Thee not.

    Thou art the Father of the fatherless,

    the Father of the forsaken,

    the Husband of the widow—

    yet in the silence of eternity,

    Thou art portrayed as lonely.

    Thou seekest love,

    and love has gone far from Thee.

    But I am here.

    Let me walk with Thee.

    Let me know Thee.

    Let me love Thee.

    Let me remain with Thee—

    for now,

    for all my days,

    and forever.

    John Mark

  • FAITH BEYOND SIGHT

    The Letter of King Abgar and the Reply of Our Lord Jesus

    There are moments in history when a story reaches across centuries and speaks directly to the human heart. One such story is the ancient tradition concerning King Abgar V of Edessa and our Lord Jesus Christ. A king who had never seen Jesus heard about His mighty works. He heard that the blind received sight, the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, demons were cast out, the sick were healed, and even the dead were raised.

    Abgar believed what he had heard. And he wrote to Jesus. His letter was not simply a request for healing. It was an extraordinary expression of faith in the One whom he had never seen.

    The King’s Letter

    According to the account preserved by the early Christian historian Eusebius, King Abgar addressed Jesus as “the excellent Saviour.” He had heard about the miracles Jesus performed and came to a remarkable conclusion: either Jesus was God who had come down from heaven, or He was the Son of God. Abgar then asked Jesus to come to Edessa and heal him.

    Abgar had not seen Jesus with his physical eyes. He had never watched Jesus perform a miracle. He had never sat among the crowds listening to Him teach. Yet he believed. His faith began with what he had heard about Jesus. That reminds us of the words of the Apostle Paul: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Abgar’s physical eyes had never seen Christ, but his heart had begun to recognize Him.

    The Reply of  the Lord Jesus

    The traditional account states that Jesus sent a reply to King Abgar. The message begins with words of extraordinary spiritual significance: “Blessed are you who have believed in Me without having seen Me.” Those words immediately bring to mind the words spoken by the risen Christ to Thomas: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

    What a profound connection. Thomas had seen the risen Lord. Abgar, according to the tradition, had not. Yet both stories point toward the same great truth: faith does not require physical sight. The Christian faith says, “Believe in Christ, trust His Word, and walk with Him—even when you cannot see what lies ahead.” We cannot see tomorrow. We cannot see every answer to our prayers. We cannot always understand why God permits certain things to happen. But we can still trust the One who holds tomorrow.

    Jesus Did Not Come to Edessa—But He Had a Greater Purpose

    Abgar invited Jesus to come to his city. But according to the traditional reply, Jesus explained that He had a divine work to accomplish first. He had been sent for a purpose. He would fulfil the work given to Him and then return to the One who sent Him. Sometimes we ask God, “Lord, come into this situation and change it according to my desire.” But God’s answer may be, “Trust Me. I am accomplishing something greater than you can presently see.”

    Jesus did not simply respond according to Abgar’s request. He remained faithful to the Father’s purpose. The Lord had come into the world for something infinitely greater than one king’s healing. He came to seek and save the lost. He came to give His life as a ransom for many. He came to reconcile sinners to God. He came to accomplish the work of salvation.

    According to the tradition, Jesus promised that after His ascension He would send one of His disciples to Abgar. The disciple would come to him and bring healing. The tradition identifies that disciple as Thaddaeus, also known as Addai, who was associated with the apostle Thomas in the Edessan tradition. Jesus Himself would not come physically to Edessa at that time, but His work would continue through His messenger. No longer would the physical presence of Jesus be limited to one geographical location. The Gospel would go out as His disciples carried His message, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the name of Jesus would travel from city to city, nation to nation, and generation to generation.

    Faith Without Sight

    The most powerful part of the Abgar story is not really the king’s illness. It is not even the letter. It is faith. A king heard about Jesus and believed. He had not seen the Lord, yet he trusted Him. Centuries later, we stand in a similar position. We have not physically walked beside Jesus in Galilee. We did not stand at the empty tomb. We did not touch the wounds in His hands as Thomas did. Yet we are called to believe. The Apostle Peter expresses this beautifully: “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

    That is the mystery and beauty of Christian faith. We have not seen Him with our physical eyes. Yet we love Him. We speak to Him. We trust Him. We worship Him. We call upon His name. And we wait for the day when faith will become sight. “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

    You might be praying for things you cannot see yet. You might be waiting for an answer. You might be walking through a quiet season where God feels silent. You might be asking, “Lord, where are You?” Remember King Abgar. He had not seen Jesus, but he believed. And remember the Apostle Thomas. He struggled to believe until he saw the risen Christ. Remember what Jesus said: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” Faith does not mean pretending that difficulties do not exist. Faith means believing that God is greater than what we can see.

    What will we do with what we have heard about Jesus? Abgar heard about Christ and responded with faith. We have something even greater. We have the testimony of Scripture. We have the Gospel. We know of His birth, His ministry, His crucifixion, His resurrection, His ascension, and His promise to return. We know His words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The question is: Do we believe Him?

    One day we shall see the King. And until that day, let us walk by faith, let us keep believing, keep praying, keep trusting, and keep seeking Christ. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).