Read: Romans 10:9-17
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (v. 17 NIV)
Although Jesus might drive out doubt immediately, he almost always uses other means, and different means for different kinds of doubt. In cases of factual doubt—doubt based on a lack of accurate information about the Christian faith—Jesus uses the facts. The only thing that drives away intellectual doubt is the truth.
You’ve heard the saying, “Feed a cold, starve a fever.” If you want to be cured of your doubt, you have to feed your faith and starve your doubt. We have to feed our minds large helpings of the truth of the Bible in order to overcome our doubt. Sadly, many people feed their doubt instead, stuffing their minds with objections to the truth and feasting on other religions and alternative spiritualities.
I’m not suggesting we should be ignorant of the wider world, but a steady diet of non-Christian stuff will make our doubt stronger. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes from hearing the truth about Christ. Note that carefully. It’s the message about Christ that brings faith. Sometimes people begin to doubt when they get lost in the thick truth of the Bible. We will find our way out of the thicket of doubt when we listen to the truth about Jesus. Feed your faith with the facts about Christ.
As you pray, ask God to feed you until you want no more.
About the Author
Stan Mast
Rev. Stan Mast is a retired pastor, who served four churches in the West and Midwest regions of the United States. He finished his career with three years of teaching at Calvin Seminary. He is happily married to Sharon, and they have two sons and four grandchildren.
