Matthew 8:26

Because of man’s disobedience, we live in a fallen world and have to contend with storms – life and nature. Storms do arise, creating disruption and unpleasant chaos. James said that when we face troubles of any kind, we should consider it all joy. Believers will be tested so they can build up endurance and grow in their faith and spiritual maturity. 

On the Sea of Galilee, a great storm arose and disrupted the calm of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus was sleeping peacefully; His disciples were anxious from fear of the storm. They woke Him up, urging Him to save them from dying. Their cry to be saved indicated their need to be rescued right then from the storm of nature and the spiritual need for soul salvation. Jesus responded to His disciples’ cry to be saved with a profound question: “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” (v.26). 

Now these disciples had witnessed Jesus performing miracles of healing and casting out demons. They must have believed that Jesus could save them though they were fearful and exercised little faith. It is important for believers to know who Jesus is and trust Him in all situations. Jesus continued addressing His disciples’ fear and little faith by exercising His authority over nature: “Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Jesus’ authority over nature illustrates that it is for certain if we trust Him, He will bring us comfort and peace in the midst of life’s storms. 

Lift your voice and give God glory!

 

 

Matthew 8:23-25

Throughout Galilee, large crowds followed Jesus as news spread about His teachings and miracles of healing (Matt. 4:23-25). In Matthew 8:18 a large crowd surrounded Him, and He commanded his disciples to go to the other side of the sea.

Here Jesus entered a ship, and his disciples followed him (v.23). “And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep” (v.24). Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says tempest comes from the Gr. seismos, a shaking, a shock, translated earthquake. When we hear earthquake, fear coupled with confusion usually grip us. I imagine when that powerful storm arose and the waves covered the ship, beating furiously against its deck, Jesus’ disciples were frantic. They knew there was trouble in the water, and danger surrounded them and Jesus. They were disciples fearful while Jesus was peacefully sleeping. This signified that as Lord over all of creation, we should trust Him to provide what we need when we need it. We trust Him to rule over and calm storms of nature because we live by faith. This is the same reason we must trust Him in our daily lives, calming storms that arise, causing fears, challenges, heartaches and pains, and so on. 

Jesus’ disciples awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish (v.25). They were fearful of the danger and possible outcome of the storm, but they knew to call Him in the time of trouble. The disciples awoke Him with an urgency; they recognized His Lordship and pleaded for Him to save them from dying.

Today, trust the Lord to calm the storms of your life. Give Him glory!

Genesis 1:26-28

On day six of the creation of the world, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (v.26). “So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (v.27). “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (v.28).

Recall that God is purposeful in all His doings, and He had a purpose for creating man. He wanted a people to be in a committed relationship with Him. So, He created them male and female in His image, after His likeness. God blessed them, and commanded them to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. He has a holy nature, and He commanded that the crown jewel of His creation be holy. “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev.19:2). He entrusted them to represent Him spiritually in this earthly realm and gave them charge of everything He made, putting all things under their authority (Ps. 8:6 NLT). 

Today, will you accept that you are created in God’s image and promise to love and obey Himand live a transformed life that glorifies Him?

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Hebrews 10:26-27

Believers are in a relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. In this relationship it is important for believers to have knowledge of who He is. “For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus” (1Tim. 2:5 AMP). In John 14:6 He says: “I am the truth. No man can come to the Father except through Me”. Having received “the knowledge of the truth” means having a deep understanding of God’s purpose and being fully committed to a life of obedience.

The Hebrew writer says: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins” (v.26), “but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (v.27).Believers are not to continue sinning deliberately; this does not please God even though He is forgiving. “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own [has put his seal on you], guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30 NLT). You are no longer His enemies so sinning deliberately is to reject Christ’s work on the cross and His salvation. Those who rebel, failing to persevere and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, endanger their souls. They put themselves in a certain fearful expectation of God’s eternal judgment and fervent anger which will consume the adversaries. 

Today, I urge you to hold to God’s unchanging hand. Shout, “Glory!”                         

1 John 2:15-17

If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. The love of the world separates us from “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ” (Eph.1:3).

Christians must not lose sight that God has chosen them out of the world and set them apart as peculiar people to live transformed lives of holiness. James 4:4b said: “… whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” When we choose to love the world, we choose to form an alliance with Satan, “the thief who comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” If we choose to love God, we accept His Son Jesus who “came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.”

John said that there are three classes of the world system that are not of the Father but of the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is vain boasting. These evil cravings put the ways of man in conflict with the ways of God. It is fruitless to love the world: “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (v.17). Apostle John stated that the fallen world system and its lust that defy the holiness of God won’t last. But the love of God is fruitful and promises everlasting life to those who obey the will of God. 

Lift your voice and shout “Glory!