FAITH CAPSULE: Ridicule is from the outside; it is an agent of discouragement.

Luke 8:49-56

As an acclaimed believer, all the things that do not represent God in your life should be considered as an outsider. All things that are outside of your belief are outsider to you and should be treated as an outsider. Doubt, fear, mockery are all outside of your belief and should be totally disallowed for you to live for the glory of God. As there are outsiders so there are also the ones to be considered as insiders. Having faith instead of fear, living in truth and having integrity can be considered as the representatives of insider. Once, Jesus’ received the report of a dead daughter of a ruler of the synagogue and He responded, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in except Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl.”(Luke 8:50-51) In Jesus’ response there was encouragement when He called against fear. Also he disallowed outsider when He permitted no one to go in except His insiders (Peter, James and John, and the father and the mother of the girl) Jesus’ insiders are agent of encouragement and not discouragement; they are agent of miracle not agent of mockery. Jesus lined up Himself with what it takes to bring forth life where there is no life. Jesus did not address the challenge on the outside until He had taken care of the inside. How are you resolving your challenges? Are you permitting the outsiders or the insiders’ interference? While Jesus was taking care of the inside, the outsider’s agent (ridicule) was in operation. It is written, “And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.”(Luke 8: 53) The outsiders that were present ridiculed Jesus thinking it would be impossible for Him to raise the dead back to life. Ridicule is from the outside; it is an agent of discouragement. As an agent of discouragement, ridicule will bring forth discouragement to stop exercising faith, which would cause the loss of faith. Jesus did not hesitate He needed to settle the outside since the inside had been addressed, the Bible recorded in Luke 8:54, “…He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise, “Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.”” Jesus did not allow the surrounding people or the outsiders deny the miracle. Just as Jesus put all agents of mockery and ridicule out in the case of the daughter of the ruler of synagogue, so He will do on your behalf.

Prayer for today: Ask God to help return all that belongs to you so there shall be a testimony to glorify God.