Practicing Faith: "Trusting the word of Jesus."
Matt. 8:26 “Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.”
In the Old Testament reading today was the story of David’s interaction with Saul in the cave and David acting out in faith, trusting his conscience. Before this verse of inspiration in Matthew 8 there is the story of this Roman official acting out in faith and requesting that Jesus just “say the word.” And then there is this story of the disciples, the one’s that should not have a doubt, completely folding in fear. Jesus seems at the least a little frustrated at their lack of faith and then with a “word” rebukes the wind and there is a great peace. The disciples are around Jesus day in and day out and yet there is this action of fear instead of faith. Why is that? Why are they so focused on the circumstances? Why do they allow the fear of the storm to be greater then their faith in Jesus?
Its interesting to look at the faithful action of the Roman official and the fearful action of the disciples in this text. What is common is this spoken word of Christ? Its as if His word is alive and active in the world; its like it is the same word with which the world was created. Jesus speaks and things happen; people are healed; storms are calmed; Kings are saved (David and Saul). What does it mean for me to be the kind of disciple today that trusts in this truth about the Word? What does it look like for me to ask God to speak and to know that when God does that it will happen? Do I really trust that the power of Jesus’ words are greater then the circumstances/storms of my life? If I do, then it should affect every aspect of my being. The times of my life that I find myself focused on the circumstance or storm are those times that I am not trusting in the power and presence of the Word. What does it mean for me to be the kind of person that simply asks Jesus to speak with full assurance that when He does it will happen? It would mean for me to act in faith; to be faithful; to act with faith that Jesus hadn’t seen in all of Israel; perhaps it means to act with faith that Jesus is calling His followers to practice in every single detail of life.
Lord, help me to act in faith today, with the full assurance that when you speak it happens and that your word is greater then any circumstance of my life. Amen.
When the Lord speaks it happens!
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