Are You Doubting?
I think the strangest part of this whole story in Luke 5 is the response of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. At the beginning of the story in verse 17, we read that they “were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem to see Jesus.” They obviously wanted to accuse him, test him and trick him.
In fact, when Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven” to this man, they started to grumble. In verse 21 we read “the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” They didn't know that He was God in the flesh.
God Knows Our Thoughts
And in verse 22, we read “Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your heart?’” And I wonder if God sees us and says, “I know what you're thinking. Why are you thinking this way?”
It goes back to what we spoke of yesterday of this defeat mindset that we have sitting on our mats. These guys didn’t have a defeat mindset, but they had a doubt mindset. Who is this man? Why does he do these things? Jesus knows what they were thinking.
Do you need to correct some bad thinking in your life? Do you need to stop doubting God's ability? Maybe you're doubting God's ability to take care of you and to provide for you. Maybe you're doubting God's ability to get you through a difficult time. Maybe you're doubting his ability to satisfy your soul, so you go somewhere else to try to find satisfaction.
Why Are We Doubting?
Let's stop doubting friends. Jesus knows what we're thinking. And I get the feeling he's saying to us today, “Why are you thinking these things in your heart? I have the authority,” Jesus said “to forgive sins.” And we know that he had the authority to do so much more than that, to heal and to accompany and to empower. He had the authority to send the Holy Spirit when he left so that you and I can walk with his closeness even though Jesus isn't on earth anymore. The Spirit is in us, and the Spirit came on Christ's authority.
Why are you still doubting God's work in your life? Friends, today's the day to stop doubting and to say “I believe! I believe that Jesus is powerful and he will get me through and he will provide and I can trust in him.”
Let's not be like the Pharisees and the teachers of the law grumbling to ourselves, but let's hear God saying, “Don't think these things, but realize that I am trustworthy and I have authority.”
Oh, when we realize that our lives change and we start living the way that he wants us to.
