Friday, April 26, 2013

Fight Doubt with the Word

"And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted" (Matthew 28: 17)

There the resurrected Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, yet even then "some doubted".

If that were not bad enough, consider the case of John the Baptist:

"2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. " (Matthew 11: 2-6)

John the Baptist was there, on the spot, when He saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove on Jesus (Matthew 3: 16)

The issue of doubt, in both instances, therefore has more to do with us than with Christ Jesus.

He does not have to prove Himself, for in the case of John the Baptist, He was apparently Messiah.

Then what is the issue with "doubt" and "what if"? These sentiments are a matter of unbelief, pure and simple, and unbelief can be provoked in us through Satan.

Just as Jesus fought of the temptations of the devil with the Word of God (cf Matthew 4: 1-11), so Jesus responded to John's doubts by giving Him the Word:

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

"Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35: 5-6)

Yet we can resist the enemy when we rest in Jesus, who is the Word made Flesh (John 1: 14) . This same exhortation Jesus gives to His disciples in the same chapter of Scripture:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)

If you doubt, it is merely a matter of getting more of the Word -- see Jesus your Savior, and all your doubts will dissipate!

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