Next Door Savior by Max Lucado
"Stormy Places" Matthew 14
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
I find verse 25 interesting for a couple of reasons.
I wonder if any of the disciples blamed Jesus for their predicament? Do we ever blame God for situations in which we find ourselves? Do we get angry at God for not fixing things immediately and in the manner of which we approve?
It is also interesting to note that the disciples are not calling out to Jesus for rescue. Verse 25 states, "Jesus went out to them. . ." As I look back over my life, I can see many times where Jesus saved me from capsizing when calling on Him for help was the furthest thing from my mind. Would Jesus have responded earlier if the disciples had called on Him? Or was the time for His rescue set and would not have been hastened by earnest prayers? Do our prayers change circumstances or just our reaction to those circumstances?
Hmmm. . .
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
I find verse 25 interesting for a couple of reasons.
I wonder if any of the disciples blamed Jesus for their predicament? Do we ever blame God for situations in which we find ourselves? Do we get angry at God for not fixing things immediately and in the manner of which we approve?
It is also interesting to note that the disciples are not calling out to Jesus for rescue. Verse 25 states, "Jesus went out to them. . ." As I look back over my life, I can see many times where Jesus saved me from capsizing when calling on Him for help was the furthest thing from my mind. Would Jesus have responded earlier if the disciples had called on Him? Or was the time for His rescue set and would not have been hastened by earnest prayers? Do our prayers change circumstances or just our reaction to those circumstances?
Hmmm. . .
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