Arrogant Skepticism

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Arrogant Skepticism------------------------------ Date: 6/17/2001
Keywords: "arrogant" "experience" "faith" "skill"
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Passage: Luke 5:1-10*

1. One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,

2. he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

3. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."

5. Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."

6. When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

7. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

9. For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

10. and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."

Question

How confident are you in your own skills and experience?

 

Practical help

Do you sometimes approach things like Peter did in today's passage -- with skeptical faith.

Peter's mother-in-law had recently been healed by Jesus, so there's not much doubt that he was aware that Jesus commanded supernatural power. Yet Peter considered his own fishing skills to be more trustworthy than some "miracle" man's fishing tip. To paraphrase a little -- "Look, I fish for a living and I've been fishing all night and you want me to drop my nets again? You're not even a fisherman! I must be crazy, but I'll do it because many seem to respect you."

What an amazing response Peter has when the reality of Jesus' power defies his own personal skill and experience! He felt such a gap between the significance of this miracle man and his own insignificance, that he immediately confessed his sinful nature and wanted to flee because he felt like he was defiling the presence of the holy.

Could be it's time to rid yourself of arrogant skepticism about what can really help you overcome a porn habit. Maybe you've tried to do the right things by the power of your skill and experience and failed. Does that mean if God leads you by his word to try them again that they won't work? Why not let God surprise you.

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*Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.