Don’t Miss The Signs!

Don’t Miss the Signs!

Bible Blast: Read John 12:35-41

Despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. John 12:37

“I’m pretty sure this is really dangerous,” piped nine-year-old Lexi Gresh as we crunched through the tall African grass. But we—her dad, her big brother Robby, and I—didn’t believe her.

That night, we were staying at Hippo Hollow, which was world famous for the hippos that came to play beneath the dining area. But dinner had come and gone without any hippo sightings. So we took matters into our own hands. Armed with nothing but a disposable flashlight, the Gresh family was exploring the banks of the river.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Lexi had warned as we got started. “I think hippos kill people! I learned it in school.”

But off we went. At one point, we could hear hippos in the river on the other side of some very tall grasses. We were about ten feet away.

Finally, we found the hippos. As soon as we directed our flashlights toward them, they ran off toward the water. It was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever experienced.

And one of the dumbest. The next morning we were told that what we had done was very dangerous. Although we couldn’t see them in the dark, signs were posted, saying, “Danger: Hippos. Enter at Your Own Risk.”

This is a lot like the experience of people who don’t know Jesus. They’re walking around in the dark and just can’t see the “signs” to believe in him. God has given us many “signs.” One of these signs is the Bible, which is actually written down for us, like those signs we didn’t see in the dark. He’s also given us preachers, like Lexi crying out truthful warnings for us. But some people can’t see or believe them because they are “in the dark.”

Be patient with people who don’t know Jesus yet and don’t see his “signs.” He loves them and may just protect them and open their eyes one day, just as he did for our family on our hippo-hunting night!

Girl Gab: Remember the three names you wrote down awhile back— people you know who don’t seem to understand Jesus or be able to see his “signs.” Write this list on some paper and put it on your fridge so you can remember to pray for them.