Taking God At His Word
(John 4:49-50) The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
Troubles have a way of bringing us closer to God. At some point in his life a person will be faced with a difficult situation that is beyond his capacity to resolve. The severe disasters of life arising from financial loss, accident, illness or death are beyond man’s control. When that happens how does one address his plight? When an overwhelming need presents itself before you how do you respond? To what extent will you go through to get the answer to your needs?
The nobleman in John 4:46-54 was in such a dilemma. His son was sick and was in the brink of death. Desperation sets upon him and despite his affluence and privileged circumstances he was left powerless to redeem neither himself nor his son from this challenging situation.
But then this man heard about Jesus and the miracles He performed so he immediately urged Him to heal his son. With his son’s need foremost in his mind the nobleman traveled a day’s journey, left his dying son and humbled himself (not considering his honorable position) in order to seek Jesus’ help.
How unfortunate that it is usually a desperate need that brings us on our knees before the Lord. Yet how gracious is our God to not look at our own frailties but to willingly extend His mercy for us who would dare to believe. Need drives us to seek for help and as we seek we find the faith to believe.
The greatest challenge however, is to simply believe God’s word over our difficult situation. Oftentimes we ask for God’s help but we try to offer our own preferences and options. We try to negotiate for control, fooling ourselves into thinking that our ways are better.
We need to learn from the nobleman’s response to Jesus’ words, “Go, your son will live.” The man simply trusted Jesus and walked away from his problem. The miracle that he desperately needed was provided and more so the saving grace of God has come to his household.
What happens then when we take God at His word? Believing God’s word enables us to experience His power – the power to redeem us from our sins and desperate situation, the power to live life in the fullness of His love and the power to overcome the strongholds of the enemy in our lives.
How do we begin to start trusting God’s words? Hebrews 1:1-2 declares, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
In the person of Jesus Christ we find sufficiency and assurance that despite the inconsistencies of life there is someone whom we can trust – One whose word is eternal, true and unchanging. Life may toss its greatest turmoil on us but if we can learn to take Jesus at His word we can experience the peace He provides. His assurance declares, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
— Lorette Edora
