Father, tonight my body and my mind are weary. It has been a busy week of coming and going. Speak through my weariness. May Your word come through loud and clear, despite it all.

John 10:22-31 (<<click here to read the passage)

We all know people that are just plain hard to talk to, at least on some topics. Often their minds are set (in concrete it seems!) and absolutely nothing you say is going to change that fact. People say of individuals like that, “It’s like talking to a brick wall!”

Talk of politics can easily have this result – no matter which side you are on. The same goes for COVID-19 protocol, abortion, alcohol use, etc., etc. I am a person who does not like conflict in the least and on many fronts, I just don’t talk about certain things because all it accomplishes is building walls between myself and others. And at that point, I really am talking to a brick wall! Division doesn’t help us in any way. All it does is give us labels to slap on the foreheads of others – you’re wrong and I’m right!

How can I get God’s love to shine through a brick wall? The walls have to come down! Some may think I am ineffective but if the walls are not erected in the first place, my objective is to splashing God’s love all about and letting Him take care of all the other things!

A portion of today’s passage reads,

So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are [really] the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainly and openly.” v24 AMP

At this point, I think Jesus would have wanted to bang His head against the brick wall! He had said as much many times. He had shown them over and over again! But regardless of his verbal and physical proclamations, they refused to listen. Jesus diligently worked to bring others into an understanding but He, for one, did not avoid conflict. He said what needed saying.

So, once again, in response to their query, He spoke the truth.

“I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. But you don’t believe me… v25-26b NLT

And to drive home the point He said, “The Father and I are one.” v30 NLT

They demanded, “Tell us!” He told them. And their response?

Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. v31

Brick walls! What more could He do than what He had done? He did not give up but kept answering their questions. Today we have lots of questions and He still does not give up on us but continues to answer the questions we ask. Will we hear…or will we be brick walls?

July 29th, 2021, Thurs, 9:07 pm