Meditation for Monday
And immediately, Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Matthew 14:31
When we speak of a doubting disciple, the first name that springs to mind is that of Thomas. After all, Thomas was the one who, after hearing from the other disciples that Jesus was risen from the dead, refused to believe their words. Maybe he had reason to question their account, we don’t know. But he is forever know as the disciple who doubted. But what about Peter? It wasn’t one of the other disciples’ words Peter was responding to when he stepped out onto the waves of Galilee; it was the words of his Lord. And Peter had already taken the first few faltering steps onto the whitecaps. He knew that Jesus’ power had sustained him for those steps. Why did he doubt that power for the last few steps? Because he was like you and me, that’s why.
Jesus’ words to Peter stand as a rebuke to us today, because we are creatures of doubt. Just as Peter had launched out onto the water in faith, and then faltered at his circumstances, so we too had launched out by faith upon the Lord Jesus for Salvation, and then falter day by day at our surroundings. The One who had bidden Peter to come to him had power to sustain Peter for every step of the distance between them. The One who reached and saved us by His grace has also promised to sustain us until we are in His presence in Glory.
But, just like Peter, we see the wind boisterous. It’s easy to doubt when we feel the waves of opposition and coldness of the world. It’s easy to doubt when we encounter so many who have no time for or interest in our Saviour. It’s easy to doubt when the devil relentlessly thrusts his temptations and accusations at us. It’s easy to doubt when other Christians struggle and stumble all about us. It’s easy to doubt when the things of this world take precedence over the things of God. But doubting doesn’t happen when our gaze is firmly fixed on His face and our steps are firmly placed at His direction and bidding.
Like Peter, we have no real reason to doubt the Lord Jesus. Abide within His bidding, with our eye upon Him, and he will forever sustain us. -Jim MacIntosh