On one occasion Jesus was with his disciples crossing the lake of Galilee. He had been preaching all day and he was exhausted so he got in a boat to get away from the crowds. Shortly after they had set off from shore a severe storm arose...one so powerful that even the seasoned sailors on board feared for their lives. In a state of panic they awoke him and asked, "Don't you care if we die?" It was then that he "stilled the storm."
Those disciples learned two vital lessons that night. First, they learned that Jesus was still in control, even though the circumstances seemed to suggest otherwise. Second, they learned that the power of the Son of God was greater than the power of nature. Jesus could still the storm.
Storms come into our lives in various forms: the loss of a job, the death of a mate, personal failure, or a serious illness. Even though the situation seems overwhelming, His power is still greater. Stop looking at the waves and look to Him. You may, like the disciples, question His care for you. He loves you as deeply as the disciples in the boat that night. Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the waters!
I know and understand that we are saved by Grace and not our works least men could boast. But it seems to be my human condition to want to apply works, want to do 'something' in order to justify my salvation. When I fall into this 'zone' I try to think of the Apostle John.
The Apostle John was the one "whom Jesus loved", one of the men who was close to the Lord, daily. He walked the fields and the streets with the Lord. He ate, slept, talked with the Lord every day. John was the one Jesus asked to take care of his mother as his life ebbed away on the cross. He wrote one of the Gospels to tell us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that "whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." He was the man chosen to experience many revelations and he wrote them down in Revelation! And he lived to be 90 years old, not experiencing martyrdom, but living to die a natural death. And scripture contains 3 letters written by John.
So, the question would be Who would know Jesus any better? Who should have known it all? Yet John was human and he made a human mistake. John testifies that he was the one who heard and saw all the things expressed in his Revelation and after receiving all this John says he fell down before the Angel who brought him all this, and worshiped him! But the Angel said, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" (Rev. 22,9)
John was human and had to be reminded that only God and His Son are to be worshiped! If John could make such a mistake at and old age, after experiencing the Lord himself, maybe I am not so unusual in my mistakes. God, bless us! Forgive me my unbelief! Amen.