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Where is your faith? – Part 4

By Austen C. Ukachi
31 May 2020   |   2:29 am
In Luke 8: 22-25, Jesus asked the disciples an incisive question: “Where is your faith?” This question applies to every one of us threatened by COVID-19 and its resultant effects.

In Luke 8: 22-25, Jesus asked the disciples an incisive question: “Where is your faith?” This question applies to every one of us threatened by COVID-19 and its resultant effects. Jesus was in the boat with His disciples and yet, they were paralysed by fear when a storm arose. Due to the fear of perishing, they hurriedly woke Jesus up from sleep, when they encountered a windstorm. They forgot that Jesus’ presence with them was enough security. This is one of the many instances where Jesus reprimanded the disciples for their faithlessness. Jesus expects those who claim to have faith in Him to demonstrate it when tough times arise.

Then in Luke 8:40-56, we find two other examples touching on the importance of faith. Jesus, on an invitation, was on His way to the house of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, when a woman with the issue of blood touched Him and was immediately healed. Suddenly, Jesus sensing that power had gone out of Him asked the multitude that thronged around Him, “Who touched me?” Tremblingly, the lady admitted, then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke‬8:48NKJV). While Jesus was still speaking with this woman, someone came and told the ruler of the synagogue, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” When Jesus heard it, He answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” (Luke 8:50). Jesus continued His journey to the house of Jairus, where He eventually raised his twelve-year-old daughter from the dead. These accounts illustrate the importance of faith.

To walk with Christ, we all must learn to walk in faith. The disciples of Jesus failed the test of faith several times. In Luke 9:37-42, we find another instance touching on faith. Jesus had just come down from the mountain, when a man approached Him to complain about his only son, who was always seized with the spirit of epilepsy. His disciples tried but failed to exorcise the spirit. Then Jesus rebuked the disciples for their faithlessness and thereafter turned to the man to say, “…Bring your son here.” Miracles alone do not guarantee faith in men, at least not among certain Jews. Some Jews believed in Jesus, while others did not. John 12:37-41 presents a very interesting case on faith, this time involving the Jews. Verse 37 states that “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him” (John 12:37‬ ‭NKJV).

Then in subsequent verses, we understand why this was so. “Therefore, they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn. So that I should heal them” (John 12:39-40‬ ‭NKJV). They did not belief wilfully because God seemed to have imposed on them “judicial blinding of eyes and hardening of hearts.” Could this be why some die-hard atheists would not believe in Christ, despite the miraculous interventions of God around them?‬We now return to the question Jesus posed to His disciples: “where is your faith?” This is the pertinent question we all must answer. Some of us may not be like the Jews mentioned above because we believe in God, even when we don’t see eye-popping miracles. True, we are believers, yet we still behave like doubting Thomas, when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances like the disciples of Jesus. Contact:pastoracukachi@gmail.com

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