Why did you say “Yes” to your current job opportunity? Why did you marry your spouse? Why did you come to Jesus? Reflecting on our past motivation gives insight to our choices. Today Dr. John invites us to examine our motive for faith. We will find that our reasons for turning to God have probably matured. It has become less about us and more about Him.

We are self-oriented people. Self-interest is our natural default. So we can understand why a crowd followed Jesus after being fed with a boy’s small lunch. They thought that anyone who could solve their hunger should be king! Today we hear Jesus correct us. He is not just a means for our satisfaction, personal or political. Listen as Dr. John cautions about using Jesus for our own gain.

Faith is the means of our spiritual life. We begin by faith. We continue by faith. It is not the product of our own efforts, but of grace. And it is by grace that God nurtures our faith. Today we hear of the way that Jesus enhanced the faith of His disciples. During a night storm, Jesus walked on the waves to His disciples. The event began in fear and ended in faith. To grow in faith, it helps to have a crisis!