THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
Ya got to have faith in your children as they grow; 'cause sometimes the things they tell ya are SCARY!
For instance, an 8-year-old came in from school one day. He told his mother, "Guess what, Mom? We learned how to make babies today!"
Surprised, and shocked, Mom tried to "keep her kewl." She queried, "And just how do you make babies son?"
He said, "Aw, Mom. It's EASY. You just change the "y" to "i" and add "es."
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________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________________________
Matt 8:23-27
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
KJV
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_______THOUGHT______________________________________________________________________
It was evening, and Jesus was taking the disciples across the Northern portion of the Sea of Galilee on a ship. The Sea of Galilee is notorious for evening storms. Do you think the storm took Jesus by surprise?
While others were obviously fretting about the storm, Jesus was peacefully asleep. There is definitely something to be said about "Peace In The Midst Of The Storm!" When the soul is perfectly at peace with God, there is peace even when the world is raging!
Jesus Himself had commanded the ship to go across the sea. Why were they fretting? After all, He was WITH them.
Notice that Jesus did not say they had a LACK of faith, but rather they had "little faith." He certainly recognized the faith they had in Him, for they were coming to Him for help. But He was slightly chastising them for being unnecessarily fearful.
What is a "lack of faith?" Faith is given when we are saved, but it is also something that must grow. It is something that has to be learned. One need not sow weeds and thorns, they grow naturally. Neither must one sow discontent, malice, covetousness, etc. They are seeds that grow naturally to man. However corn, wheat, beans, etc. must be sown and then cultivated in order to grow and bear fruit. And so it is with faith. The "seed" of faith has already been sown in Christian's lives through surrender to Jesus. However, we are to CULTIVATE that seed and allow it to GROW!
Would you, Christian, experience strong faith in the difficulties of life? Then remember, you are a new creature in Christ Jesus. The seed is planted, you must cultivate.
Read the Word.
Heed the Word.
Live the Word.
Let disciplined education cultivate the plant until the fruit is received.
Notice verse 27. Our Lord allows us to be "in the storm" at times. He expects us to be fruitful for Him during those times because He is WITH us. And we must remember, that He who led us INTO the storm can QUIET the storm!
Jesus, OWNS the wind (See Psalm 135:7).
Jesus also "gathers the winds in His fist" (See Proverbs 30:4).
Jesus can keep you in "perfect peace" through the winds and storms (See Isaiah 26:3).
Don't have a little faith: instead, grow in faith.
Love ya,
Bruce