Don't Doubt God's Word
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when He saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "Why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:22-33.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when He saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "Why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:22-33.
The disciples saw one of the most fascinating miracles in the Bible in this passage of Scripture. One night, in the middle of the lake, they saw someone walking on the water toward them. They did not expect it to be Jesus because He was supposed to be on a personal prayer retreat. So, terrified, they concluded that the figure on the water was a ghost. But Jesus assured them that it was Him. As usual, Peter was the one to make the bold move, "Lord, if it's you . . . tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus replied, "Come."
Peter boldly took Jesus at His word and began to walk on the water until he saw the boisterous wind which began to sink his faith. Along with his sinking faith, Peter began to sink in the water as well. The response of Jesus gives us a remarkable insight into the connection between our faith and the word of God. Peter asked Jesus to save Him. Jesus reached out and saved Peter from sinking and said to him, "You of little faith . . . Why did you doubt?"
Two things are worth pondering:
First: Our faith in God's word can have an immediate impact on our situations and circumstances. Peter was sinking but the word of God to him was "Come." Just come on the water with me; you will not sink. Peter had faith in Jesus and His word and he began to walk on the water with Jesus. There was an immediate change in his situation. Peter moved out of the boat only when he heard a word from Jesus. His faith was released by that word!
No matter how low we have sunk, faith in God's word can lift us up and change our circumstances.
Second: When you take your eyes off God's word, fear will set in and drown you. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Faith to overcome our challenges is only buttressed in us when we focus and believe God's word. As long as Peter believed the word and focused on Jesus, who is the Living Word, he was able to overcome his fears and triumph in his situation. He began to sink when he started doubting the Word and focused on the boisterous circumstances around him. Doubting God's word makes us fearful and double-minded and the Bible declares that double-mindedness makes it impossible for us to receive anything from God. Don't doubt God's word!
Peter boldly took Jesus at His word and began to walk on the water until he saw the boisterous wind which began to sink his faith. Along with his sinking faith, Peter began to sink in the water as well. The response of Jesus gives us a remarkable insight into the connection between our faith and the word of God. Peter asked Jesus to save Him. Jesus reached out and saved Peter from sinking and said to him, "You of little faith . . . Why did you doubt?"
Two things are worth pondering:
First: Our faith in God's word can have an immediate impact on our situations and circumstances. Peter was sinking but the word of God to him was "Come." Just come on the water with me; you will not sink. Peter had faith in Jesus and His word and he began to walk on the water with Jesus. There was an immediate change in his situation. Peter moved out of the boat only when he heard a word from Jesus. His faith was released by that word!
No matter how low we have sunk, faith in God's word can lift us up and change our circumstances.
Second: When you take your eyes off God's word, fear will set in and drown you. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Faith to overcome our challenges is only buttressed in us when we focus and believe God's word. As long as Peter believed the word and focused on Jesus, who is the Living Word, he was able to overcome his fears and triumph in his situation. He began to sink when he started doubting the Word and focused on the boisterous circumstances around him. Doubting God's word makes us fearful and double-minded and the Bible declares that double-mindedness makes it impossible for us to receive anything from God. Don't doubt God's word!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the power and authority of your word. Please help me to internalize your word so that my faith will be continually built up to overcome every situation that might come my way. Amen