For less flipping read Matthew 13:10-52; Luke 8:9-18, 22-25; Mark 4:21-41
The passage that jumped out at me today is the portion about Jesus calming the storm in the sea of Galilee. This small sea is only 13 miles long and 7 miles wide, but it is very deep - 150' deep - and surrounded by mountains which meant that storms could sweep in with little warning and stir the waters into violent 20' waves.
And that's exactly what happened one time when Jesus and His disciples were out on the Sea and the disciples, many of them experienced fishermen, panicked because they knew this storm was bad indeed and the danger was very real.
But Jesus commanded the waters to be still, and they were. We've read this story so many times that it fails to make the impact that it obviously would've had at the time. In literally a blink of an eye, that sea went from 20' waves to being smooth as glass. It's mind-boggling really.
But what only jumped out at me after reading the notes in my Life Application Bible, was how this is applicable to our lives. After all, I'm not a fisherman, and though we do love to go on cruises for winter holidays, we purposely avoid hurricane season - so I'm pretty sure it's safe for me to say that I will not be on the water in a boat about to be swamped by 20' waves.
But here's the thing....
There is often a stormy area of our human nature where we feel God can't or won't work. When we truly understand who God is, however, we will realize that he controls both the storms of nature and the storms of the troubled heart. Jesus' power that calmed this storm can also help us deal with the problems we face. Jesus is willing to help if we only ask him. We should never discount his power even in terrible trials.....
When caught in the storms of life, it is easy to think that God has lost control and that we're at the mercy of the winds of fate. In reality, God is sovereign, He controls the history of the world as well as our personal destinies. Just as Jesus calmed the waves, he can calm whatever storms you may face......
The Christian life may have more stormy weather than calm seas. As Christ's follower, be prepared for the storms that will surely come. Do not surrender to the stress, but remain resilient and recover from setbacks. With faith in Christ, you can pray, trust, and move ahead. When a squall approaches, lean into the wind and trust God.
God is in control. God is sovereign.
This doesn't mean that He will instantly calm every storm in our life if we ask Him to. But He will weather the storm with us, He will never leave us, and He is in control.
Do we believe that?
Jesus asks it quite pointedly "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:40
Bob Deffinbaugh has a great sermon on this passage called Stilling of the Waters. First his comment on what the disciples said to Jesus when they desperately woke Him in the midst of the storm....
The statements of the disciples differ from one gospel to another:
- “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” (Matthew 8:25)
- “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” (Luke 8:24)
- “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38)
I believe that all of these words were spoken, and probably more. As there were twelve frightened and frustrated men with Him, each may have spoken at once, or perhaps in sequence, or a little of both. Thus, the recording of all of these statements is true to the events, and reveals different emotions and responses. Matthew seems to record a cry for help. Luke seems to give us a statement of doom. Mark records the rebuke of one or more of the disciples for our Lord’s seeming aloofness.
He describes the importance of faith - faith is fundamental for followers of Christ and failing to trust in Christ dishonours and displeases Him and is detrimental to ourselves.He then describes the nature of faith in twelve ways - faith is a choice; faith acts both by waiting or by working; faith is tested and proven by adversity; faith is the opposite of fear; faith faces danger and risk; faith is trusting God; faith is trusting God alone; faith is trusting in God alone to do the impossible; faith is trusting in God alone for salvation; faith always has a firm foundation (no excuse for unbelief); faith is trusting in all the attributes of God, founded by the Word of God; and faith is founded on the purposes of God.
One important reality is this - even though the disciples’ faith failed, God’s purposes did not. In spite of the disciples’ fear and unbelief, the ship did not sink, the storm ceased, and all landed safely on the shore. The failures of our faith do not frustrate the purposes of God. As Paul puts it,
If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2 Timothy 2:13).
Here is the bedrock basis for our faith. He is good. He is powerful. His purposes will stand. And even when we fail in faith, He will not fail in faithfulness. (emphasis mine)
Tomorrow's passage: Mark 5:1-20, Matthew 8:28-34, Luke 8:26-39, Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 9:18-26, Luke 8:40-56
Less flipping: Mark 5:1-43; Matthew 8:28-34, 9:18-26; Luke 8:26-56
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