Matthew 28:16-17 (NKJV) Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
It was very difficult for some of the disciples to believe that Jesus resurrected even though they saw Him with their own eyes. Some of the disciples had to deal with unbelief just most of us during times of struggles. It might not be with the resurrection because we have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ, but it could be certain issues that we are facing presently.
Some of us might have the mental assent that Jesus has resurrected from the dead, but we are living a life as though He is dead and deaf on hearing. It will keep us in hopelessness. There are three things that will keep us from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel whenever we endure tribulations and sufferings. They are fear, doubt, and unbelief because we are overwhelmed by the circumstances. All three are founded on what we are seeing, reading, feeling, hearing, and experiencing. We should not deny facts nor the experience that we are having but faith will move us forward. Fear, doubt, and unbelief will prevent us from seeing through the eye of faith regarding what God has instore for us in the future. Therefore, we need to deal with these emotions by replacing it with the word of God and to focus on the person Jesus Christ.
Jesus mentioned three times to the disciples that He will rise again after three days. We would have expected the disciples to take His word for it. If they had believed Jesus’ word that He will rise again on the third day, then they should have gathered at the tomb. That’s faith. That’s faith in Jesus’ word.
John 20:25 (NKJV) The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.
A lot of us will tend to waiver in our faith like Thomas did when it comes to faith in God in our daily living especially when we are faced with a very difficult situation. This is especially true when we are very strong in our mind. Some of us might assume the worst-case scenario for everything that we are going through in life. It is human nature to doubt. One thing that we must not allow is to let doubt and unbelief to continue to grow in our lives. It will take control of our lives and cause us to be very pessimistic in every situation. When this happens then we will find fault in every solution. We will rationalize away the truth of the word of God. It will not be very helpful when we are in distress.
Doubt or Faith? The choice is ours based on what we meditate upon daily. We have God in our lives! Jesus is alive! Faith helps us to see into the future. Faith in God help us to walk out of the situation. Faith helps us to walk towards the end of the tunnel!
Sermon Series: Resurrection Sunday – Live by Faith
质疑或持守信心
马太福音28:16-17: 十一个门徒往加利利去,到了耶稣为他们指定的山上。他们见了耶稣,就拜祂,然而还有人疑惑。
有些门徒即使亲眼看见耶稣复活,也很难相信祂复活了。当时一些门徒因为自己的不信而纠结,正如我们中的多数人在经历不信时的纠结一样。这纠结可能不是关于耶稣复活,因为我们已经选择了相信耶稣基督,而是可能来自于我们目前正面临的某些问题。
我们中的一些人可能在头脑中接受耶稣已经从死里复活,但日子却过得好像祂是死的或是耳聋昏聩的。这会让我们觉得没有指望。每当我们遭受患难和痛苦时,有三件事会让我们看不到隧道尽头的亮光。它们是恐惧、怀疑和不信,因为我们被环境所压倒。所有这三个都建立在我们所看到的、读到的、感觉到的、听到的和体验到的基础上。我并不是说要否认事实,也不否认我们正在经历的,但只有信心才促进我们前进。恐惧、怀疑和不信将阻止我们通过信仰的眼睛看到上帝在未来为我们准备的东西。因此,我们需要处理所有这三个问题,以上帝的话语取而代之,并专注于耶稣基督道成肉身的事实。
耶稣三次向门徒提到祂会在三天后复活,我们也以为门徒们都相信祂的话。如果他们真是相信耶稣说的祂会在第三天复活,那么他们就会聚集在坟墓前等待,这就是信心。这就是对耶稣话语的信心。
约翰福音20:25 其余的门徒就对他说:“我们已经看见主了。”多马却说,我若不看见他手上的钉痕,用指头探入那钉痕,又用手探入他的肋旁,我总不信。
我们许多人都会像多马一样,在日常生活中动摇了对上帝的信心,尤其是当我们面对非常困难的情况。特别是当我们理性思想特别坚定的时候。我们中的一些人总是把生活中一切的不如意都朝着最糟糕的情形想象。怀疑是人的天性。有一件事是我们不能允许的,那就是任凭怀疑和不信在我们的生命中继续增长。它会控制我们的生活,导致我们在任何情况下都非常悲观。当这种情况发生时,我们会挑剔每一个解决方案,我们将远离上帝话语的真理。自怨自艾,诸事不顺。
是怀疑还是持守信心?我们的选择来自我们每天的思量。我们的生命中有上帝!耶稣还活着!信心帮助我们预见未来。对上帝的信靠帮助我们走出困境。信心帮助我们走向隧道的出口。
讲章系列:复活主日-凭信心而活
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