http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy280/ICAdoral/Faith-devotional-500px_zpsxq65cjud.jpg

 

Monday June 20, 2016

 

Nothing honors God more than faith. Because of this, God is always looking to grow our faith, and nothing has greater potential to grow our faith than does the difficulties of life.

 

One day, Jesus was preaching to a large crowd of people. Towards the end of the day, He made His disciples get into a boat to go ahead of Him, to the other side. Following this, Jesus went up to a mountain to pray. That same night, the disciples found themselves in the midst of a devastating windstorm. Right before dawn, Jesus appeared to them walking upon the waters. Thinking they were seeing a ghost, the disciples became more frightened of Jesus than they were of the storm and they began to scream. However, Jesus immediately said to them: “take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid”. Peter, more than likely recognizing that his boat was about to sink, cried out to Jesus saying: “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water”. To which Jesus replied: “Come”. Peter began to walk on the water, but as he focused on the devastating wind, he began to sink and screamed out, “Lord save me!” Jesus immediately reached out His hand pulling him out of the waters. Jesus then said to him: “man of little faith, why did you doubt?” Look at what happened next.

 

Matthew 14:32-33 NIV

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

Although the disciples had been with Jesus for many months, and although they had witnessed Him performing many miracles, it was not until Jesus had rescued them from the storm that they began to worship Him. Up to this time, the disciples had never worshipped Jesus. It was in the storms of life that their faith grew the most. Before this incident, they had never seen Jesus in this light.

 

When Jesus saves us from our most devastating circumstances, He goes from being someone we admire, to someone we worship. It is in the trials of life that our faith grows to the degree that we are able to recognize Him for who He truly is. More than a mentor or a teacher, Jesus becomes in a very personal way, our God and savior.

 

James 1:12 NIV

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

 

James tells us, that there is a direct connection between persevering faith, and those who love God. He also tells us that God promises a special reward for those who demonstrate their love for Him by persevering and resisting temptations when in the midst of trials. You will never truly love or worship God until the testing of your faith leads you to recognize Him for who He truly is; your Savior.