The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:14:22-36

kjv@Matthew:14:22 @ 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.

kjv@Matthew:14:23 @ 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.

kjv@Matthew:14:24 @ But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

kjv@Matthew:14:25 @ And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

kjv@Matthew:14:26 @ And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

kjv@Matthew:14:27 @ But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

kjv@Matthew:14:28 @ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

kjv@Matthew:14:29 @ And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

kjv@Matthew:14:30 @ But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

kjv@Matthew:14:31 @ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

kjv@Matthew:14:32 @ And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

kjv@Matthew:14:33 @ Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

kjv@Matthew:14:34 @ And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

kjv@Matthew:14:35 @ And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

kjv@Matthew:14:36 @ And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Today's notes:Bid Me Come

Context:

Before - feeding 5000+
After - things which defile a man

What is man believing/doing?:

disciples obeying Jesus
leaving Jesus alone unguarded
crying out for fear
Peter associating the proof that it is indeed Him with the ability of Christ to bid him to come
halted by sudden fear cry to be saved
people of Gennesaret bringing Him their sick, sick seeking to touch His hem

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

His command
the sight of Him walking on water
the notion that a spirit would not be able to accomplish this where Jesus would
boisterous wind and waves
fame, perhaps acquaintance with story of woman previous

Notes:

This is the second of these private nautical classroom adventures kjv@Matthew:8:23-27 . The lessons of the first surely retained at least in part by these students.

What made Peter to ask for this? It is almost as if he is betting his own life that this is Jesus and not a spirit. Is it to calm the fears of his brethren? If so that is remarkable initial faith; compassionate and leadership like. Initial is only the start of what is needed however.

What then makes this remarkable initial faith behave as little faith? The consideration of his personal failure (the short comings of his own resource against such odds) overtaking Jesus' own ability. Bigger faith is remarkable in personal resource is left from the equation.

The faith in touching a hem to be healed, while substantial, involves little risk; it either works or it doesn't. The faith in walking on water is stepping out on entirely new ground, while no more substantial, involves the greatest risk if one chooses to look at that way; it is likely to become swallowed up in the perceptions of own's own abilities. How many similar biddings have been sunken in this manner?

If Peter's faith is little, how much smaller is the men's remaining in the boat? This is the only known opportunity of this particular sort given the disciples, the others had to learn Peter's lesson either from Peter's mistake or else another of their own.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

Risk and personal ability seem to the the whole of the equation. Where there is no ability and little risk there seems greater likelihood of faith in the Lord's. Where there is some ability and little risk there seems no need for His. Where there is no ability and great risk there is the great need for His, but it is complicated by the near immediate vacillation back into ours.
Situations often demand uncommon faith and or the rapid development of such. Few until presented the opportunity to discover these principals ever get past themselves enough to engage in these deeper purifications of one's faith.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:14:22-36
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:14:22-36 rwp@Matthew:14:22-36 mhcc@Matthew:14:22-36
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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