Faith in the Word

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path – Psalms 119:105

I don’t know about you but so many times I long for a word… just a word from the Lord. A word that tells me that all will be okay, a word that guides me on the right path, a word that gives me something to hold on to when the way grows dark… just a word. The preacher back in February said something that I have thought and wrote about before but perhaps I needed the reminder.

Luke 5:4,5 “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

John 4: 46-50 “So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, who son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he want unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.”

Both Simon Peter and this Nobleman had nothing to hold onto but the words of Jesus. Jesus didn’t offer Simon Peter a foretaste of the fish that he would catch, nor did the nobleman immediately see the healing of his son. All they had was THE WORD of Jesus. So on this journey back out to sea, what did Peter focus on? Did he feel a bit foolish knowing all the toiling they did all night and yet here is this man that is a carpenter by trade telling him to launch out again? The only thing that Peter had was his faith and the word of Jesus. The same goes for the Nobleman. There wasn’t email or texting to get the instant alert that his son was miraculously healed so what did he hold in his mind and in his heart on the journey back to Capernaum? The only answer can be faith and the word of Jesus.

Luke 5:8 “And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.”

John 4:51-53 “And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed and his whole house.”

 “Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for… And the EVIDENCE of things not seen.” Faith is something that you can hold on to even when your hands are empty. Jesus’ Word is what you can focus on when the way grows dark and everything looks contrary. When we hold to our faith and anchor ourselves on the Word of God, we will see the victory that we desire. When we merely take God at his word is when we will see prayers answered and promises fulfilled.