John 4:46-54

⁴⁶Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. ⁴⁸“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” ⁴⁹The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” ⁵⁰“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵²When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” ⁵³Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.

Seeing and believing …

How often do we take God's words for what they are and just believe? The promises that are in the Bible? That time he told us to do something radical? Is there something God is challenging you with right now? God's word is full of promises and commands that require faith. Personally, the one I think about the most is the call to not worry about what tomorrow brings; to go out into the world without even carrying anything (Luke 9:3). The royal official in this passage took a radical step in faith by taking Jesus at his word. We may think to ourselves, “I have taken a step in faith before, but I did not see any results,” or “I don’t have enough faith to have things like this happen to me.” Approaching this passage, I find some simple principles that help.

First, is it God who is speaking? Or is what I’m hearing just my ideal solution. What is God telling me?

Second, knowing who Jesus was, the royal official immediately took him at his word and acted upon it. Do we know who the Father is? Do we understand his character? He is the Father who cares, giving his children what he knows to be good for them. Do we trust him to give us what we need? A key point is understanding that it's his grace and not our righteousness that achieves anything. We can assume that as long as we are seeking God's will and are walking in his path, he will guide us!

Third, before even seeing the result (his healed son), the royal official heard of the changed circumstance. The passage suggests that he may have even believed before seeing God's healing take place. When we look at the promises God makes and discern the things he is saying to us, do we have faith to believe before we see it manifested? Who does this? Children do! Childlike faith is what we ought to have as children of God. In the end, the royal official and his entire household believed. How have you seen God move in your life? Let us remember and believe.

Prayer
Dear Father, teach me to walk in your ways and to discern your voice today. I pray that you guide my steps as I walk out in faith towards your will for my life. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.