Your Faith Matters

This devotional considers John 4:43-54 and John 20:24-29.

A royal official in Cana in Galilee had a son who was sick. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. This official was someone who would have heard about Jesus turning water to wine at the wedding, the first miracle Jesus performed in public. This official was also present at the Passover Festival in Jerusalem some time before where many people saw the signs [Jesus] was performing and believed in is name. 

So, of course, when his son became ill, the official sought out Jesus. He begged in desperation and Jesus said to him, Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe. This may sound like harsh words coming from Jesus under these circumstances. But it seems that even though the man asked Jesus for help, he did not truly believe. He said, Sir, come down before my child dies. Now, Sir may be commonplace and may not be an indication of whether a person believes, but in the circumstances of this account, there is omission. He did not say Teacher or anything else, so who was Jesus to him? Just a healer, a worker of miracles? Suppose Jesus had not healed his son?

Still, we can’t discount the official’s measure of faith. After Jesus said, Go, your son will live, Scripture says he took Jesus at his word and departed. But it was not until his son was healed that the Bible says that he and his whole household believed. God in his mercy, blessed him for the sake of his faith and that of his family. Clearly, coming to faith or increasing in faith has powerful and far-reaching effects.

But, sometimes, faith in God feels hard whether you’re thinking about it, new to it or you’ve been walking with the Lord many years. Be encouraged though because even though Jesus values the kind of faith in him that doesn’t not see a sign, know that he will meet you where you are and do for you what you need. Here we are reminded of Thomas who would not believe Jesus rose from the dead unless he saw the nail marks in Jesus’ hands. And that wouldn’t have been enough, he would have to put his finger where the nails were and his hand into Jesus’ side. What happened though? Jesus came among the disciples and told Thomas to do all that he needed to believe. Put your finger here…Reach out your hand…Then Thomas’ heart and mouth was filled with who Jesus is, My Lord and God!

Today, think about who Jesus is to you. Then, ask him to fill the gaps in your faith, wherever you are on the journey. He will say yes, and you will believe like you never have before.

Amen.