Thursday, November 17, 2011
Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
INCREASE MY FAITH ON THE WAY TO THE LAST DAY
The above passage is drawn from the familiar story of Jesus walking on the water. He had come out to His disciples who were struggling at the oars in a violent windstorm on Lake Galilee. When they saw Him they were frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost. Jesus reassured them: "Don't be afraid! It's me!" When Peter asked for permission to walk to Jesus on the water He told him to go ahead. At first Peter did well, but when he looked at the boisterous waves he became fearful again and started to sink. When he cried out to Jesus for help, He reached out to catch Peter, gently chiding him: "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
In the storms of life in this world of sin we too are tempted to doubt that Jesus has our lives firmly in His control. We have all the precious promises of His Word and know they are 100% reliable. Yet in the nuts and bolts of daily living in a "wild and wooly world" our faith often wavers, with the result that our hearts are filled with unnecessary fears. When Jesus returns on Judgment Day we will realize how foolish we were to doubt His promises. In the meantime, as we make our way to that Day, let's ask Him to bless us with greater patience and strength to weather life's trials in a calm and trusting spirit. Let's make the prayer of the hymn writer our prayer too:
In faith, Lord, let me serve Thee; Though persecution, grief and pain
Should seek to overwhelm me, Let me a steadfast trust retain;
And then at my departure Take Thou me home to Thee
And let me there inherit All thou hast promised me.
In life and death, Lord, keep me Until Thy heaven I gain,
Where I by Thy great mercy The end of faith attain.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 381:3)
