How can we strengthen our faith to trust Jesus' words over our reasoning? The Scene in Matthew 16:7 “ They discussed this among themselves and concluded, ‘It is because we did not bring any bread.’ ” What Happened? • Jesus warned, “Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (v. 6). • The disciples immediately reasoned, “We forgot lunch.” • Their conclusion sounded logical, yet it missed Jesus’ spiritual point entirely. Why Our Brains Default to Bread • We trust what we can see, taste, count, or measure. • We fear being unprepared, so we grasp at practical explanations. • We forget how often Jesus has already provided (see vv. 9-10, feeding of the 5,000 and 4,000). Jesus’ Gentle Correction (vv. 8-11) • He reminds them of past miracles—evidence meant to anchor faith. • He exposes the poverty of pure human logic. • He redirects focus from physical scarcity to spiritual danger. Principles for Strengthening Faith Over Reasoning • Remember His works: recalling past answers demolishes present doubt (Psalm 77:11-12). • Trust the higher mind of God: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). • Lean on revelation, not deduction: “ ‘Not by bread alone, but by every word…’ ” (Matthew 4:4). • Embrace faith’s definition: “Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for” (Hebrews 11:1). • Walk by faith, not sight: 2 Corinthians 5:7. Practical Habits That Build Trust • Start each day in Scripture before scrolling news—let His voice lead the narrative. • Keep a journal of answered prayers; review it when doubt whispers. • Memorize key promises (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 8:32) and speak them aloud. • fast from excess analysis—set time limits on troubleshooting and switch to prayer. • Fellowship with believers who testify to God’s recent faithfulness (Hebrews 10:24-25). Encouraging Promises to Hold • “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) • “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples.” (John 8:31) • “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Living the Lesson Today Keep watch for “leaven” ideas that seem reasonable yet contradict Jesus’ words. When logic shouts “bread,” let remembered miracles, written promises, and the Spirit’s whisper redirect you. Reason is a gift, but revelation must lead. |
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