PRAISE HIM IN THE STORM

SCRIPTURE

Time After Pentecost - Lectionary 12
Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)

Christ calming the sea

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

DEVOTION

Oh hallelujah! Today I am reminded why I love the Bible so much! I have read and/or preached this scripture hundreds of times, but today—as always—I learned something new! Thank you Holy Spirit!

Today I am captivated by the fact that Jesus got into the boat with his disciples to “leave the crowd behind.” Jesus was tired of the chaos of the people pressing in on him; they wanted food and they needed Jesus! He had just spent the entire day ministering to the people and he needed a place to rest, relax, and put his feet up after a long and tiring day!

He said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side,” then he got in the boat, put his head on a pillow, and was out like a light!

While he was sleeping, a great windstorm arose and water started pouring into the boat. In response, the disciples began to panic, but Jesus continued to soundly sleep.

Don’t you think it is amazing that the storm was a place of terror for the disciples and a place of great peace for Jesus?

Wow! Their disparate reaction must have something to do with their perspective on the storm.

As the disciples viewed the storm they were afraid. They saw the wind and the waves and felt as if their lives were in danger. As the boat grew heavy with water the disciples undoubtedly began to fear the worst. In their imaginations they probably could see the boat sinking with them inside. They were fearful of choking, drowning, and then dying, whilst Jesus slept in the boat.

On the other hand, Jesus got into the boat with the injunction, “we are going to the other side.” Jesus was sure about his destination and peaceful about the journey. He went to sleep confident, sure that all was well!

Did you notice the descriptive words in bold as they related to the disciples? The words associated with the disciples are: afraid, danger, fear, and die. Whereas the words associated with Jesus are sure, peaceful, confident, and well!

Wow! This is a stark difference, is it not? So, what accounts for the difference? Again, I believe it has to do with each man’s perspective.

The disciples could only see the now. They could only focus on the storm. They were only able to live in the terror of the present moment. They threw their faith overboard looking at the power of the storm, rather than remembering the power their God.

Jesus was able to see past, present, and future all at once. As the Son of God, he was fully God and fully man! As a man, he needed rest and sleep after a long day, but as God Omnipotent, he knew that the storm would rise, but he also knew that he had absolutely NO-thing to fear.

I believe this is how God sees our storms today. We see the trials, tribulations, heartaches, pains, illnesses, poverty and betrayals of this life and we panic. Our imaginations tell us that horrible things are going to happen to us--and to our loved ones--and so we begin to flail around! Instead of hoping for the best, we prepare for the worst, believing that at any moment we are sure to die!

God on the other hand, already knows that we are not going to die! God knows that FEAR is simply, “False Evidence Appearing Real.”

God knows that once we put all of our hope in Jesus, there is absolutely nothing that can keep us from eternal relationship and home with our God!

God knows that God has a good plan for us not to harm us but to give us a future and hope (Jer 29:11). God knows that all things work together for good for those that love God and are called according to God’s purposes (Romans 8:28). God knows that nothing can separate us from the love of God revealed in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39).

In times of trouble we see the wind and the waves and anticipate the worst, but God sees an opportunity for us to learn to get still, calm, and quiet as we learn to trust in God!

In response to our terror and fear, God says, “Peace be still.”

God speaks to the storm, “Peace be still.”

God speaks to the disciples, “Peace be still.”

God speaks to us today, “Peace be still.”

My friends, be at peace and get very still. Stop trying to solve the problem. Stop flailing around in the boat. Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord (Ex 14: 13)!

God knows about your storm. God knows that you are afraid. But, God also knows that God is in control. In response to our fear God says, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Today, Spirit is imploring you to have faith in Jesus. The Bible says that, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).”

Right now, you can see the storm. But, faith is not about believing in what you can see, it is believing in The One who has promised that “all is well, all is well, all manner of things are well (Julian of Norwich).”

You know, it never occurred to Jesus that he—and his disciples--would not arrive safely on the other side. He spoke it and so he knew that it would be so.

The same is true today. God speaks blessings and not curses, life and not death, into our lives and God is fully confident that both will come to pass.

Listen my friends, be at peace. God has already proven God’s great love for you when Jesus went to the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. If God did not spare Jesus from the cross, but gave him up for us all, surely God will also freely give us everything else that we may need (Romans 8:32)!

Even in the midst of our storms, God is fully in control of the situation. We need only to trust in his ability to bring us safely to the other side.

Will you trust Jesus today?

Dear God, today I put all of my hope in you. I have faith that You love me and Jesus died and rose again so that my sins are forgiven and I am the recipient of eternal life. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with the love, joy, and peace of the Holy Spirit. I know that you are in full control of my life. I will praise you in the storm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed this prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! I would be so honored if you would let me know about your decision by clicking “Yes” in the poll located at the top/right of today’s devotional! I am so happy for you! Happy Spiritual Re-Birth-Day!

Next steps: In response to what God did for you just now, let me suggest that you consider telling another Christian so that they can celebrate with you! Ask them to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand so that you can learn more about your new-found faith! Ask them to help you find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make loving friends who will walk with you on your new journey! You are already saved; now let God mature you by faith! Congratulations!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE DADDIES WHO ARE READING TODAY! GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I!

If you would like to put all of your hope in Jesus today, please visit my blog entitled, “Putting All Your Hope In Jesus” located at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/putting-all-your-hope-in-jesus.html

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus"
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

Pastor Yolanda is now publishing another blog entitled, “A Spoken WORD” in celebration of Holy Hip Hop, Gospel/Christian Rap and Spoken Word. Please check it out @ http://aspokenword.blogspot.com/

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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com