NIV Matt 22.46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
DLNT Mark 4.10 And when He came-to-be alone, the ones around Him with the twelve were questioning Him as to the parables.
BBE Mark 8.11 And the Pharisees came out and put questions to him, requesting from him a sign from heaven, testing him.
NLT Luke 2.46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.Geneva 2 Tim 2.23 And put away foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they engender strife.
TLB Titus 3:9 Don’t get involved in arguing over unanswerable questions and controversial theological ideas; keep out of arguments and quarrels about obedience to Jewish laws, for this kind of thing isn’t worthwhile; it only does harm.
We thought we’d kick off with a few examples of the actual use of the word “questions” in scripture. Now, on to today’s devotional…
Pastor Kevin Rogers is, I believe, the most frequently cited devotional writer/blogger here at C201. Today he looks briefly at a subject worthy of our consideration. Click the headline below to read at source or leave comments.
Good Questions
Throughout the Bible, many examples of prayer, songs and meditations are filled with good questions for God. How long? When? Will you? Why? Who? At the heart of our questions for God is the ache for healing, redemption and a reason to hope. The questions we have for God tend to be very human and speak to our longing for a better world. Here’s a Psalm that gives voice to honest human questions.
Psalms 44:
23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?25 We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up and help us;
rescue us because of your unfailing love.
There are also questions that God asks throughout Scripture. In prayer we want God to be able to ask us some clarifying questions. Consider these examples.
Genesis 3:
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Matthew 16:
26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
In this session together, we want to focus on asking God difficult questions and also ask each other probing questions. Take notes.
Prayer Prompts
- Start by thanking God for ways that your questions have been answered. What are things that you used to wonder about and now have settled in your mind?
- In prayer, bring all the questions you have for God. What are the things that you are not sure of, having difficulty with and wondering why it is not clear? What is bothering you?
- Ask God what he wants to show us as a church. What are the unanswered questions and unfulfilled longings for the body of Christ in our church and in our city?
- Now, we shift focus and ask God to examine our hearts. God, are there things that you want to ask us? God, speak to us about what is on your mind about our lives.
- Pray for each other that God would give wisdom for unanswered questions. Pray that we would be willing and open to hear answers.
James 1:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
By the same author, Profound Questions. You may find in this short devotional some of the same type of questions you’ve been asking God.
Christianity 201 