Thursday, January 11

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

(Matthew 8:23-27)

This passage provides a helpful picture of the disciples' incomplete understanding of Jesus, Whom they had decided to follow.  Indeed, they received an ongoing revelation about His character and power only over time, which created quite a few moments of amazement.  While we have the pleasure of being able to read accounts ofJesus's life and ministry in short order,  we, like the disciples, receive an ongoing revelation of our Lord's character and power as we seek and abide in Him.

Just as the disciples faced a storm in this passage, we also encounter difficulties, sufferings, and persecutions.  We may face unemployment, relational disconnects, or illnesses for ourselves or loved ones.  How often we exclaim:  "Lord, save us!  We're going to drown!"

In the beautiful song "It Is Well," a modern meditation on "It Is Well with My Soul," the author includes this precious line:  "The wind and waves still know His Name."  The song crystallizes our tendency to minimize the Lord Jesus Christ's authority over all the earth.  His sovereign control extends over all time and all circumstances.

What waves do you see today?  Or have you seen in the past?  How did God demonstrate His authority in the past?  How could you trust Him for today's challenges?

Lord God, thank You for giving us many evidences of Your sovereign control.  Help us to grow in faith and trust so that we may experience Your joy and peace.  In this very worried time and place, allow us to witness to Your sovereignty through calmness and gratitude.  In Jesus's Name, amen.