Wednesday's Word

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Wednesday's Word - An Email Devotional - by: Dr. B. Wiley Stephens

I don’t know about you, but I have always thought it was so much easier for the first disciples to believe in Jesus because of what they had experienced with him, including his resurrection. And yet at the end of Matthew we have this strange verse in Matthew 28:17, “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” How after all they had seen could they doubt?

And if they could doubt, how much easier is it at times for us to doubt? However, is that a bad thing? Doubt can be faith’s best friend at times. It pushes us to grow in our understanding and not to merely accept an easy answer. As we look at what we believe, it drives us to the only source of truth - it drives us to Jesus.

Jesus’ answer to those who doubted and those who believed his resurrection was two fold. He challenged them to a great mission; we call it the great commission. He called for them to go forth and make disciples of all nations. Faith is not having all the answers, but in trusting God as we step forward to live our faith. The second part of the answer was not a cram course on all that he had taught, but a simple promise that he would always be with them. The power and peace that comes from being with Jesus is greater than all the theological answers that might deal with our doubt - truly on “Christ the Solid Rock We Can Stand.”

I have a list of questions that I plan to ask in heaven one day. However, one thing I have complete trust in is that God is with me now and forever. Amen.

May God bless you and yours,