From astonishment to faith - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

They were astonished beyond measure, saying, He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.
Mark 7:37.

From astonishment to faith
Have you noticed, in the gospels, how everyone is astonished at Jesus? There was amazement among educated men at His intelligence, when at the age of twelve years He listened to them and asked them questions. There was surprise in the crowds over His miracles and sayings and fear and surprise among His disciples when the sea and the wind obeyed Him (Luke 8:25). Even His opponents were taken aback when they heard His response to the trap they had set Him: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17).

Such astonishment caused His hearers to wonder over the vital question: who is Jesus? Some believed in Him, like the Samaritan woman (John 4), others preferred not to believe and to keep away from Him.

This applies to people today. Aren't we astonished when we read the Bible? There is a God who wants to be our best friend; a God who became Man and died on a cross to free us from evil and death; a God who enables us to overcome our unbelief. Isn't that truly surprising?

Does this astonishment make us shrug our shoulders and claim, "That's not possible; only the Bible says so."? Or: "That's too good to be true."? Or does our astonishment make our hearts grateful that Jesus loved us to the extent of giving His life for you and me? Astonishment with faith reveals more of Jesus to us and binds our hearts to Him.

Today's reading: Exodus 16:31-17:7 · Luke 7:24-35