9/17/24

Matthew 14:31 NASB1995 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

How many times in your life has Jesus reached out and taken care of you? How many times has He stretched out His hand and lifted you up when you were sinking? You were ready to just give in and die when He picked you up and brought joy back to your life. I wonder when our faith becomes sight for the first time how ashamed we will be at our little faith.

We already know of many times in our lives when we were sinking and felt like our life was falling apart but Jesus came to the rescue. However, there are still so many other times we are unaware that Jesus stepped in and kept us afloat just as He did Peter in our text. Peter found this out later. Luke 22:31-32 NASB1995 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

The word for demanded permission is a word that means speaking with authority when you have none. It is like a little kid throwing a fit. Jesus knew what would happen. He even said Simon when you turn again strengthen your brothers. He goes on to tell Simon of his denial later in this text. Yet Jesus does not abandon him and in fact, He prays for his faith. Jesus doesn't just reach out and lift us up when our faith is failing, He also seeks to strengthen our faith.

Jesus wants us to walk on faith, but when our faith is weak, He WILL hold us up.

Love Bro. Scott