How can we guard against skepticism like the scribes in Matthew 9:3? Setting the Scene “Some men brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.’ At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming!’” (Matthew 9:2-3) Why the Scribes Stumbled • Their hearts were trained to trust human reasoning over divine revelation • They preferred protecting established traditions instead of recognizing fulfilled prophecy (Isaiah 53:4-6; Micah 5:2) • They saw authority in the letter of the Law but missed the Author standing before them (John 5:39-40) Recognizing Seeds of Skepticism in Us • Intellectual pride—assuming my understanding sets the limits of what God can do • Past disappointments—allowing unanswered prayers to harden expectation • Cultural pressure—absorbing a secular mindset that doubts the supernatural • Spiritual drift—neglect of Scripture and prayer dulls sensitivity to the Spirit Guard Rails for the Heart 1. Saturate the mind with Scripture ‑ “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16) ‑ Daily, systematic reading keeps faith anchored in truth, not sentiment 2. Choose humble dependence ‑ “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) ‑ Confess limitations; celebrate God’s limitless wisdom 3. Recall God’s track record ‑ Psalm 77:11—“I will remember the works of the LORD” ‑ Keep a journal of answered prayers and fulfilled promises 4. Submit thoughts to Christ ‑ “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) ‑ When a cynical thought arises, replace it with a revealed promise 5. Stay in Christian community ‑ “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13) ‑ Faith is fanned into flame when believers testify to God’s works 6. Practice immediate obedience ‑ John 7:17 shows understanding grows through doing God’s will ‑ Acting on God’s Word reinforces confidence that it is true Cultivating a Faith-Filled Imagination • Meditate on gospel scenes—picture the paralytic rising at Jesus’ word • Speak Scripture aloud—hearing truth combats quiet doubts (Romans 10:17) • Sing doctrinally rich hymns—melody seals truth deeper than mere reading When Questions Arise • Bring them honestly to God, not skeptically against Him (Habakkuk 2:1) • Search the Scriptures, expecting answers (Acts 17:11) • Ask mature believers for sound counsel (Proverbs 11:14) Living on the Front Foot of Faith “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Guarded from skepticism, we approach each day anticipating the same Savior still forgives, still heals, still speaks, and always keeps His word. |
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