Daily Devotions
March 13th, 2012 by Pastor SolleyMatt 14:21-33
21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
There are various types of faith found in our text this morning that I would like to look at over the next few days. We will begin with the faith of the multitude. Jesus had just fed the 5,000. The multitudes had gathered before Him, some to see a miracle, some just to see Him, some to serve Him. After feeding them we find Jesus sending them away. (Verse 22) These ones had a faith that allowed them to know who Jesus was, and a faith that caused them to want to receive good things from Him, but not a faith that moved them to receive Him and follow Him. These ones did not have saving faith. Ever wonder why not one of them tried to remain with Jesus after He sent them away? They were not obeying Him, they simply thought that they had gotten all from Jesus they were going to get. The blind man who was healed would have followed Jesus, Legion would have followed Jesus, the woman at the well told others about Jesus. Those ones had a saving faith. But the multitude just walked away. Just as there are many sitting in churches today to get the good things from God, to get all they can from God. Ever wonder how many people attend church because they think God will have to do something good for them? They will fill denominational churches on Saturday night and Sunday morning because they have been taught that God will then have to do something good for them. God will have to take care of them, God will have to bless them, they go to get something good from God. This is not a saving faith, it is a faith apart from repentance and a dead faith. Yet even in Bible believing churches there can be found many like this. They have said a prayer because they think God will then have to do something good for them. But they have never repented and have never known what saving faith is. There are more people like this than we think in our churches or the church would not be in the decline that we find it in today. Is your faith one that is trying to get good things from God or is it more than that. Tomorrow another type of faith.