Tuesday, August 7, 2018

7 August 2018 - peace in the storm



There are wind and waves all around us.

Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.

Our boats are tossed by the circumstances of life. We're in the boat with other people. But none of the people we are with can do anything about the weather. They're more interested in their own survival in the face of circumstances.

There is none to plead your cause,
no remedy for your running sore,
no healing for you.
All your lovers have forgotten you,
they do not seek you.

We have but one hope. We need to welcome Jesus into our boats. He has not forgotten us even if he seems to have gone off by himself. He knows when we need him and he comes to us. For our part we need to make sure that we aren't so wrapped up in our circumstances that we fail to recognize him.

"It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter said to him in reply,
"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

When Jesus tries to enter into our difficult moments do we dismiss him as a ghost? Or do we listen when he says, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid"? If we listen to Jesus and not the storm we can find safety and peace. It begins even before the weather changes. There might be waves, but with Jesus near us we can walk over them. They do not need to deter us from doing what we should do if we keep our eyes on Jesus.

"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come."
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;

The waves challenge us. But they never overcome us if we trust in Jesus. It his command the winds die down and we make our crossing in safety.

After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
"Truly, you are the Son of God."

We find that healing only comes through the LORD. It is sustained by keeping our eyes fixed on him. 

His leader shall be one of his own,
and his rulers shall come from his kin.
When I summon him, he shall approach me;
how else should one take the deadly risk
of approaching me? says the LORD.

Jesus is this ruler, from God, but also from his kin. In him all the damage we see in the world today can be rebuilt. It doesn't seem like it if we look at the waves. But if we fix our eyes on him we know it to be true.





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