I recently read about some missionaries in Eastern Europe who are employing a creative method to start conversations about the gospel. Using social media, they have posted a single question referenced in the story about blind Bartimaeus in the book of Mark (10:51). In that account, Jesus interacts with him and asks this question: “What do you want me to do for you?”

Their Facebook page went on to offer to have some dialog on this topic. Some 725 curious folks responded and so far, those missionaries have had 350 meaningful conversations. It all started with a question.

So, I got to thinking about questions in the Bible. According to scholars, there seems to be over 3300 thoughtful questions posed in the scriptures. They cover a range of issues. Many are trite, but a lot of them are important questions that we ought to wrestle with on a regular basis.

For example, God asks “Do you want to be well?” (John 5:6 ). Now there is a wonderful leading question for those who struggle with negative habits. Or, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?”(Job 38:4). Now there is a quick perspective giver.

But the very first question in the Bible caught my attention. In Genesis 3:1, Satan in the form of the Serpent asked Eve, “Did God really say…” He was undermining the very foundation of her faith, the spoken word of God.

And Satan is still using that tactic today. Only now, he is attacking the written Word of God and our dependence upon it.

When we face a difficulty and begin to meditate on the Words of God, we are displaying our confidence in Christ. His word has and we are confident it will,  sustain us. We rely on its power and seek it readily.

But then the hissing sound of the Serpent’s voice can almost be audibly heard. “Oh, really? You actually trust those truths to be true? Do you confidently believe that God intends to honor His promises? Has God said?”

Paul warns us in II Cor. 11:3 that ”I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

So, this week, let us focus our attention on one of the key questions found in our Bible. Let’s answer it with a resounding statement of faith: “Yes, God has said and I believe it!”

Imagine how confidently we can move through our days….