Justin Danielson, minister, Parkview Christian Church
Have you ever heard these quotes? “When in doubt, don’t.” – Benjamin Franklin. “When in doubt, tell the truth.” – Mark Twain. We may often quote, “I doubt it,” when we don’t agree with someone or something.
Merriam-Webster defines doubt this way: to call into question the truth of: to be uncertain or in doubt about: to lack confidence in. In the Bible, doubt is usually a wavering or a hesitation.
Maybe there have been things in your life that have caused you to doubt. As I told my son the other day while looking at cars ads online, “If it’s too good to be true, it’s too good to be true.”
In the ministry of Jesus there were doubters all along the way. Some doubted because they didn’t want to believe the miracles that were performed right before their eyes. Some hesitated until they saw healings and miracles with their own eyes. Even one of the disciples who spent time closely walking with Jesus doubted. We call him Doubting Thomas because he only believed Jesus had been resurrected after touching His nail scarred hands.
In Matthew 14, Jesus fed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, and then immediately sent the disciples in a boat to go ahead of Him to the other side of the body of water. Jesus dismissed the crowd and made His way up into a mountain to pray.
As the night progressed so did the weather. The disciples found themselves fearful with the waves crashing around them. As the storm worsened, Matthew says that Jesus came to the disciples “on” the water. Jesus was walking on the water during the storm to meet them on the boat. The disciples were “terrified” when they saw Jesus and thought He was a ghost.
For the complete column, see this week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard
