"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Mark 4:39
It was the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who described part of the human condition when he immortalized the words, "Into each life some rain must fall." Without a doubt storms come into all of our lives, whether they be gentle and quiet or raging and thunderous. None of us escape life's more challenging times.
The apostles were particularly frightened by their storm. You will recall that they woke Jesus who was asleep on the ship transporting them. They asked if he cared whether they perished or not.
Beloved during our worst and lowest times, we can sometimes feel that Jesus is asleep at the switch and does not care about our suffering. We would do well to remember three things. First, Jesus is with us as he was with them. He is right there in the middle of the storm with us. Second, he is the master of time, space, the elements and your circumstances. Remember, he is the creator of all things and nothing that was made was made without him, John 1:1-3. He has the ability to deliver you from your storms just as he delivered the apostles.
Lastly, Jesus' followers asked themselves what manner of man he was once they saw their deliverance. We as Christians must know and have faith in our hearts exactly what manner of man he is. He is our deliverer, the resurrection, the way, the truth, the life, the Son of God and our salvation from every storm. Let this knowledge bring you peace and calm in the middle of your storms.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Showing posts with label Storms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Storms. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Greater Than the Storm-10/11/2011 (rp)
"And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus." Matt 14:29
It is a well known biblical account that Peter was the only man other than Jesus to walk on water. It is important to note, however, that there are important facts surrounding the event:
It is a well known biblical account that Peter was the only man other than Jesus to walk on water. It is important to note, however, that there are important facts surrounding the event:
- They were physically separated from Christ when the storms arose in that he had gone to pray and sent them ahead. The account as recorded by Mark in 6:48 reveals that Jesus was aware. Let us take heart that Jesus is always aware of our condition, whether stormy or bright.
- Christ came to them walking on the water. It is important that we know, understand and believe that our Lord, by whom nothing that was made was made, is the master of space, time and the elements. He can walk across and through the storms that terrify us, not simply for the sake of doing it, but to get to us. Let us take heart that Jesus never forsakes us.
- The disciples were terrified at his appearance, imagining him to be a ghost. Far too often we fail to recognize his presence. We mistake him for fate, destiny, providence, luck and happenstance. He is none of these things. Let us take heart that our Lord is a deliberate savior who has not given us the spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind.
- Peter had enough faith to leave the relative safety of the boat to walk on the waves his master controls. With faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains. We just need to learn to rely on God instead of ourselves. Let us take heart that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
- Peter took his eye off the Lord and began to succumb to the storm. Jesus is a bright and shining light. Whenever we remove our gaze and become distracted by the darkness, we are in danger of being overcome by it. Let us take heart that Jesus is the light of the world and in him there is no darkness.
- According to the account in Mark, they welcomed him into the boat and the storm ceased immediately. According to the account in John, they were then immediately at their destination. Know that things are better in the company of the Lord than out of the company of the Lord. Though we will all endure adversity from time to time, we are never alone. If we welcome him into our lives, he will eventually guide us to our destination. Take heart that he has prepared a place for us, that where he goes, we may be also.
Beloved, think on these things in times of trial and tribulation. Think on them more in times of peace and prosperity.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Jesus vs. Our Storms-6/16/2011
"And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up." Mark 4:37
Today's installment of the "Water Gospels" is related as a series of statements and thought provoking questions.
We agreed yesterday (as we considered Jonah's woes) that storms enter all of our lives.
What are some storms that you have endured?
How did you get through them?
The disciples found themselves enduring a storm. The bible says that they were very
frightened.
Have your storms ever frightened you?
What did you do?
Scripture tells us that Jesus was asleep.
What does it meant that Jesus was sleeping?
Is the point really that he was there?
Has he been there in your storms?
The disciples were concerned about dying and questioned whether the savior cared.
Are there times when you think God is not with you, or not paying attention?
Have you ever read the poem "Footsteps in the Sand?"
Our saviour has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Jesus calmed the storm by speaking words.
What does that say about him?
Does it remind you of the creation account?
What does it say about your storms?
What does our fear say about our faith?
The disciples wondered what manner of man he was?
What does that tell us about them?
What does it tell us about ourselves?
In our next lesson, we will talk about how they found out just what manner of man he
is.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Today's installment of the "Water Gospels" is related as a series of statements and thought provoking questions.
We agreed yesterday (as we considered Jonah's woes) that storms enter all of our lives.
What are some storms that you have endured?
How did you get through them?
The disciples found themselves enduring a storm. The bible says that they were very
frightened.
Have your storms ever frightened you?
What did you do?
Scripture tells us that Jesus was asleep.
What does it meant that Jesus was sleeping?
Is the point really that he was there?
Has he been there in your storms?
The disciples were concerned about dying and questioned whether the savior cared.
Are there times when you think God is not with you, or not paying attention?
Have you ever read the poem "Footsteps in the Sand?"
Our saviour has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Jesus calmed the storm by speaking words.
What does that say about him?
Does it remind you of the creation account?
What does it say about your storms?
What does our fear say about our faith?
The disciples wondered what manner of man he was?
What does that tell us about them?
What does it tell us about ourselves?
In our next lesson, we will talk about how they found out just what manner of man he
is.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Certainty in the Midst of Calamity-DD 1/5/2011
"Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, " You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matt 14:31
The apostles, who found themselves on a ship (at Jesus' direction) in the middle of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, were terrified. Jesus came walking across the water in the midst of this storm and Peter caught sight of him. Seeing this and having enough faith to believe he could also walk on the water if Jesus would just call him to the task, did in fact step out of the boat and on to the waves. Famously, however, he took his eyes off of the Savior and began to sink.
Beloved, it is easy to have an intellectual faith in God. This is the type of faith that says, "I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept him as my Lord and Savior...but..." There are many things we can do with this kind of faith, but it is insufficient to carry us all the way. When the waves rise and the winds increase, we tend to take our eyes off of Jesus and begin contemplating either how we are going to handle the situation ourselves or how it is going to consume us. We forget all about the fact that Jesus is present with us in the midst of our storm and that he has given us power over it.
Let us not be limited to an intellectual "half faith." Let us, "Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding." Prov 3:5. As he did with Peter, he will lift us above our circumstances and then take care of the circumstances.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
The apostles, who found themselves on a ship (at Jesus' direction) in the middle of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, were terrified. Jesus came walking across the water in the midst of this storm and Peter caught sight of him. Seeing this and having enough faith to believe he could also walk on the water if Jesus would just call him to the task, did in fact step out of the boat and on to the waves. Famously, however, he took his eyes off of the Savior and began to sink.
Beloved, it is easy to have an intellectual faith in God. This is the type of faith that says, "I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept him as my Lord and Savior...but..." There are many things we can do with this kind of faith, but it is insufficient to carry us all the way. When the waves rise and the winds increase, we tend to take our eyes off of Jesus and begin contemplating either how we are going to handle the situation ourselves or how it is going to consume us. We forget all about the fact that Jesus is present with us in the midst of our storm and that he has given us power over it.
Let us not be limited to an intellectual "half faith." Let us, "Trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not to our own understanding." Prov 3:5. As he did with Peter, he will lift us above our circumstances and then take care of the circumstances.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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