Topic: Laying Down Your Doubts [David Wilkerson Devotional 28 November 2020]
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Laying Down Your Doubts
Nicky CruzNovember 28, 2020
One day Jesus sent his disciples across the lake by boat while he went to a mountainside to pray alone. Soon the winds kicked up and started tossing the boat to and fro, so Jesus decided to walk out on the water to help the disciples. Here’s how Matthew 14:25-29 recorded what happened next:
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Notice how the disciples responded when they saw Jesus walking toward the boat. They became terrified and cried out in fear, “It’s a ghost!” How could they not have recognized him? Shouldn’t they have expected him to do something this miraculous? They were in trouble and you’d think they would have been watching for Jesus to come to their aid. Yet when they saw him, their doubts rose to the surface.
But Peter’s reaction was different. “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” He believed in God’s power and he was able to put aside his doubts and fears. Peter saw the miracle for what it was and because of it, he was able to walk on water along with Jesus. He didn’t just see the miracle, he experienced it — he lived it.
Far too often you and I are like the disciples. We want to believe, but our humanity causes us to doubt. It’s not surprising that we have trouble believing such things, because Satan is a master at casting doubt. It’s what he does best. “God doesn’t really do miracles today,” he whispers into our ear. “That’s just an illusion. That’s not Jesus walking on the water; it’s just a ghost.”
Paul said, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). God’s power has not diminished and don’t ever let Satan convince you otherwise. The deceiver will try to deceive you but don’t ever doubt the power and authority of the living God.
Believe what you see and see what you believe. It is not a ghost — it is Jesus!