Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Soul (07/13/06)
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TITLE: WHAT IF? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Brenda Bates
07/18/06 -
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Too often we are faced with opposition. We’re scared of the next catastrophe. We’re terrified that one of our family members will not receive the free gift of salvation. We’re afraid that our health will fail. We’re frightened that faith alone is not enough.
What if all we read and believe in the Bible is not enough? What if our mind says one thing and our heart says another? What if…?
One of my favorite passages in the Bible tells us about the faith of Jesus’ disciples after they had already witnessed numerous miracles. Read Matthew’s portrayal regarding, “Jesus Calms the Storm”. Imagine yourself in the boat with Jesus; imagine yourself during the most frightening moment you face this day – your personal storm.
[Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 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. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matthew 8:23-27 NIV]
Jesus wasn’t worried about the storm or He wouldn’t have been sleeping. The scripture doesn’t say that Jesus pretended to sleep or that He was testing the faith of His disciples. Jesus was peacefully enjoying the rocking motion of the boat on the water as He slept.
The disciples, on the other hand, were used to Jesus taking care of the situation. He cast out demons, rose Lazarus from the dead, and healed the sick and the lame. But this was different; the disciples were seeing the storm through their own eyes and they were genuinely scared for their lives. The scripture doesn’t say that Jesus scolded the disciples when they woke Him up, but it does say that He scolded the winds and the waves. Jesus stood up and with one wave of His hand the storm was no more. “And it was completely calm.”
What makes us believe that our lives are not just as important to our Lord as those of His disciples? Dig deep into your soul and take an inventory of all the personal storms in your life. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Visualize you are placing each storm into the cupped hands of Jesus. Be still…as He rebukes each one until it is completely calm. Then listen for His voice whispering, “Don’t be afraid, your worries are in My hands.”
What if we trusted God that much?
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