Private Practices

 

“Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.” John 4:48, 50, 53 KJV


The story of a nobleman of Capernaum explains the difference between public and private practices. Publicly, the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him to align with public expectations from noble personalities and adherence to political correctness. Likewise, those who practice religion instead of cultivating personal relationships with Jesus Christ would do anything to secure a good public perception. It is possible to cross all “t”s and dot all “i”s as regards public perception on morality and religion; but still have zero faith in the manifestation of the Almighty God on personal issues of life. Little wonder Jesus’ first expression to the nobleman’s challenges was “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe”. Oftentimes, we struggle with people whose private practices are tangential to their public perceptions because we haven’t reflected on the revelation “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe”. Whenever we are privileged to experience the manifestation of “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe” in all engagements with people within our sphere of influence, everyone within our care will truly believe God genuinely (both privately and publicly) with us.


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