Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Luke-Lord of the Storms

 Luke 8:22  Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.  

Jesus commanded them to go over to the other side, they obeyed him but they were not alone, he was in the boat with them. When Jesus speaks to us to do something, we are never alone, he goes with us. Normally we follow him as he goes ahead, leading us as the Good Shepherd leads his sheep.

Luke 8:23  But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.  

Can you imagine this? Jesus as a man was just like we are, he was sleepy from so many people demanding his time and his touch to heal. He slept. Be assured that he is not asleep now when you call upon him. God does not sleep.  

Psa 121:4  Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.  

Another man was in a boat asleep, the prophet Jonah, but he was not as Jesus, he was running from God. He also was in a storm at sea.   

Jonah 1:5  Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and helay, and was fast asleep. Jonah 1:6  So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.  

Jonah was the problem. The storm was because God was upset with Jonah. The Mariners cast him in the sea and the storm ceased.   Jesus was not the cause of the storm, He is the one who calms the storms of life.

Luke 8:24  And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.  

Mark 4:39  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.   Peace be still and the wind and the stormy sea was calmed.

Luke 8:25  And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.  

Only God can calm the storms. Jesus was a bit ypset with the disciples in the boat. Where is your faith? What manner of man is this? It is God the Son, the son of man.   Are you a Jonah? Do you cause storms and problems by your own disobedience to God? Or are you by faith going to Jesus to calm the storms of life
  Eaglewings Daily Bible  

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