Topic 2/3 (read the first)
How weird a topic, faith in yourself. Yes I am serious, and yes this is something that is not mentioned or often talked about. Its over looked and thus, I believe, has caused a handful of problems within the church and the body of Christ has a whole. First lets look at some scripture to show that this is truly an authentic and genuine concern of Christ for our well being.
Mathew 14:25-32:
During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
When Christ reaches out his hand to Peter, he is not questioning his faith that he is God. Think about it, Jesus just walked out there on water, is standing there, now grabs him and pulls him up out of the water while standing on it. Peter did not doubt that Jesus was the Christ, he called out to Him in his time of need, rather he doubted who Christ had made him to be. This is so crucial.
At the time Peter did not know the roll that had been set before him, to set up and establish the Church for God, but if it were to happen he could not doubt his calling and that he would be given everything he would need by God. When Jesus told him to Come it meant that Peter could if he would only believe that he had been given what he needed, that it was truly his calling.
This has many applications for us today, while none of us are called to start the church, we are ALL called by Christ to be a part of His active body here on his earth. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed and unable, and here is the part that strikes closest to home for me. Peter faltered after he had started, he WAS walking on water when he became overwhelmed and then doubted himself and began to sink. He had started in faith and was defying logic and the laws of nature, and THEN doubted that he was able to. Christ was standing in front of him, waiting for Peter to follow behind him (as was accustomed to the eldest of the disciples of a rabbi, to follow first after the rabbi so close that the dust from his shoes would smear upon his face, which is why he asked to follow), and his eyes did not miss this.
Here is the underlying question inherit in this passage.
Why do you think I can do things you can not?
Christ came to change the waves of the war that has been raging since the fall in Eden. He came that we would be able to do things unfathomable to earthly standards because more then anything God wants and desires us to know him. This perfect love caused him to send Christ that he may use us to become a blessing for his people (for blessed are the feet that carries Good News). All Christians are called and are ambassadors for Christ here on earth. One of the biggest problems plaguing our generation is the lack of faith we have in who God has called us to be and what that means to what we can do for his Kingdom. If we would only follow closely behind Christ, letting him lead us and trusting when he leads us, walking on water would be the least of that which our eyes would see.
Before Jesus left the apostles he told them that he was going to be with the Father, that he would give us the power to ask ANYTHING in his name if we would only believe that we have the right to ask it.
While I do admit, it can take time to understand the specifics of Gods calling on your life (sometimes only reveled as we live it out), do not stop seeking God, asking for wisdom, and holding onto the faith which he instills in us. Faith first in Christ as Lord, and then in the calling he has placed on your life. Live for the Body and be His blessing.
~paul