Six:Eight

When Jesus walks on water & invites Peter to do the same, He proclaims He’s the Son of God and, in so doing, strengthens the faith of His disciples. Practicing our faith in new uncomfortable ways forces us to set our fears aside & put our trust in Jesus. We can trust that Jesus is the Great ‘I am’ who comes to us through the darkest storms of life.

Jesus’s power to resurrect the ruler’s daughter announces God’s limitless power over life & death. When we believe God possesses power over life & death faith produces courage - we’re free to put our hope for the future in His hands.

In declaring the paralyzed man’s forgiven, Jesus declares His authority equal to His Father’s. The forgiveness of sin wrought by Jesus on the cross confers on us a responsibility to extend it to others as we give witness to His authority in our lives.

By healing the centurion’s servant, Jesus establishes His power over the material world, but it’s the spiritual reality of faith to which Jesus draws our attention. We give witness to Jesus’s authority in our lives by our obedience to His teachings & our willingness to live in submission to God’s Word.

Have you known a Debbie Downer, a wet blanket? What they say is true, just negative. No one wants to be called a 'Doubting Thomas' who never believes anything and always looks at the negative. However, just like Thomas, for whom that term was coined, our doubt can show how close we actually are to God; we can be transformed by Jesus in our state of doubtfulness. Christian maturity allows our doubts to be challenged by God's truth and faithfulness.

We can believe God & struggle to believe at the same time. And Jesus will accept us, even in our struggle. It’s wise not to hide doubt, but bring our unbelief before a loving God even if in guarded hope & expectation. Because when disappointment becomes the norm, doubt may be our natural reaction.

We can become doubtful when God doesn’t meet our expectations. But God wants to change our limited view of Him. We will let God change our perspective & expectations in order to walk with Him well.

This four-week series examines doubt in Christian life. Faced well, the experiences of certain biblical characters reveal doubt to push believers towards deeper faith - revealing God desires we walk with Him in such seasons. Like John the Baptist, Christians go through seasons of doubt - opportunities to pursue & press further into Jesus.

Cultivating spiritual habits fuels change & growth. Though Christian growth isn’t just about self- discipline, habits are a powerful part of our change as believers. We strive as the Scriptures teach to cultivate habits which bring spiritual change.

Change is hindered when we put off responsibility. We can't allow procrastination to hinder spiritual growth. But sometimes we avoid the necessary difficulties, conversations, or responsibilities God places before us which would bring it. Passivity is fear and lack of faith, having dire effects on spiritual growth. It stands in the way of that to which God calls, His glory, and which would otherwise grow us.