July 31 - Tension between Faith and Doubt - Devotional

GracetoYou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’” (Matthew 8:26–27).

If you have been a believer for very long, you realize that knowing about the Lord’s love and powerful concern and trusting in them do not always go hand in hand. Even when we trust, it is not always complete or without trepidation. When the disciples witnessed Jesus calming the storm and waves, they were no doubt relieved but also still very much unnerved. Matthew says they “were amazed,” and Mark says they were “very much afraid” (Mark 4:41). They were now perhaps more afraid of the One who had just stilled the storm than they had been of the storm itself.

Our human frailties are so much a part of us that even after God has rescued us or done something amazing on our behalf, we still have doubts and fears. Like the apostles and the greats of the Old Testament, we can be most perplexed and fearful right after experiencing God’s greatness and mercy.

Our faith needs continual strengthening, as the disciples came to realize when they implored, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5; cf. Mark 9:24). We know the Lord can and will provide according to His perfect will and timing, but we easily can fail to trust in that reality. If we rely on mere “little faith” rather than complete faith, we will be afraid, timid, and doubtful when difficulties arise.

Ask Yourself

What is a proper response to God’s care, even when it arrives in undeniable power and an uncanny arrangement of events? What should gratitude be growing in us each time we see Him working on our behalf and for His kingdom’s cause?

From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.

[metmom]

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[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[delta7]

Studying God’s Word.
———
Amen. With that comes blessings and discernment beyond mortal belief.

My standard suggestion to atheists, non believers, and secularists “ Try Jesus, if you don’t like him, Satan will always take you back”.

[SouthernClaire]

Thanks, Metmom!

[ought-six]

My understanding is that belief is confirmed by faith.

[metmom]

My standard suggestion to atheists, non believers, and secularists “ Try Jesus, if you don’t like him, Satan will always take you back”.

That’s a good one.

[Elsie]

They were now perhaps more afraid of the One who had just stilled the storm than they had been of the storm itself.

Well; if they knew the Scriptures...

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Mark 4:39
  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
 

 

 

 

Exodus 14:16
 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

 

Exodus 14:22
  And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.
 
Psalm 29:10
 The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.

 

Psalm 65:7
 Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.
 
Psalm 89:9
 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
 
Psalm 93:3-4
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.

Psalm 107:29
 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
 
Proverbs 8:29
 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
 
Jeremiah 5:22
 Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
 
Job 38:11
 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
 
Nahum 1:4
 He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks for that excellent collection.

[Elsie]

Thanks to the Jews and Romans for collecting them all together in a Book.

[ViLaLuz]

Our human frailties are so much a part of us that even after God has rescued us or done something amazing on our behalf, we still have doubts and fears.
..........

That’s the truth. Thankfully in His mercy even faith the size of a mustard seed works. But definitely striving to increase faith is necessary. A very good reason to be in the Word daily, all day long. Pulling close to our Hope & Protector.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thanks to the Holy Spirit....