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Sunday, August 01, 2010

Call on Jesus

Last lifeboat arrived, filled with Titanic sur...Image via Wikipedia
Three of the gospels relate the incident of a storm that arose at sea. They tell us that the ship in which Jesus and His disciples were travelling filled with water. Now when I read this story, images from the movie Titanic flash through my mind. The surging waters, the rocking of the ship, the look of terror on the faces of the passengers. I am sure this boat was no Titanic, but whatever its size, it was in trouble. And these seasoned seamen felt helpless.

I have been on a few cruises in my lifetime and will soon be going on another. I remember one cruise when the waves were so high they seemed level with our cabin window. And how that boat rocked! I admit, I did feel a bit scared. But the thought of water actually flooding the ship never entered my mind. If it had, I might have fainted from fear. So I sympathize with these men, even though they may have all been professional sailors.

But the Scriptures say that they went to Jesus who was sleeping like a baby somewhere in the ship and woke Him up with the words, "Master, master, we perish" (Luke 8: 24). Jesus got up, rebuked the winds and the waves and, of course, the atmosphere became as quiet as the night before Christmas. Some people say the disciples should have had more faith. Jesus Himself said to them, "Where is your faith?" (V 25). But I don't think Jesus scolded them because they woke Him up. I think He scolded them because they were afraid.

When your ship fills up with water, when you are in a storm, Jesus expects you to call on Him, but you needn't feel afraid or helpless. Because "our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber" (Psalm 121: 2-3). In Psalm 91: 14 God says, "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."

Over and over in the Bible God invites us to call on Him when we are in trouble. If we don't, we may be calling on someone or something else, and that is idolatry. We cannot, need not, face the storms alone. We have "an anchor (our faith) that holds and grips the solid Rock" in the time of storm. Take comfort from this fact.
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