Choices are for the Living

Choices are for the Living

Luke 8:22-25, “One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into the boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked His disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this?” He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.”

As I was pondering the scriptures above I noticed some obvious facts. The first fact I noticed was Jesus gave the disciples a word in verse 22, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” The second fact that caught my eye was, they obeyed. “So they got into the boat and set out.”  But it was when they got into the boat their faith was challenged, “As they sailed He (Jesus) fell asleep.  A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.”  Readers, sometimes its right after we make a decision to obey we find our greatest challenge.  After they were in great danger I noticed in verse 24, their faith was perishing, “The disciples went and woke Him saying, “Master, Master we’re going to drown.” Wow!  In the middle of their challenge they panic.  Jesus got up rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm fell asleep and all was calm according to verse 25.  Then Jesus looked at them and asked, “Where is your faith?” Still in verse 25, “In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the wind and the water, and they obey Him.”

photo credit - deafministries.com

 “Who is this?”  Remember they said this after Jesus had cast out a demon, heals Peter’s mother in law, provides a miraculous catch of fish, heals a man of leprosy, heals a paralyzed man, and heals a man’s hand that was shriveled up.  I know that Jesus didn’t pick the twelve until Luke 6 but they were certainly a witness to the astonishing acts of Jesus.  Then Jesus teaches about loving your enemies, criticizing others, fruit, and building your house.  Now I could leave it at this and it would be enough but there is more. After Jesus’ incredible teaching He raised a widow’s son from the dead, eases John’s doubt, teaches about the four soils, describes His true family, which is those who hear God’s Word and puts it to practice.  Lastly, Jesus calms the storm and its right after this when our eyes fall upon those famous words, “Who is this?”

  I remember a time when the doctors came to my husband and I and told us our oldest daughter had a rare blood disorder, that her blood was the blood of a dying child.  The Lord gave us a word through the prophet Isaiah, “And by His wounds we are healed.”  Then we stepped into the boat.  But as life would have it our faith was challenged, the doctors kept performing one test after another, but we refused to panic because our mentality was not “Who is this?”   Our mentality was we know who our God is He is Johavoah Jirah; my provider, Johovah Rapha; the Lord that heals, El Elyon; the most high, Johovah Shalom; the Lord is peace, Johovah Mekoddishkem;  the Lord who sanctifies you and Johovah Shammah; the Lord is there.   Listen Readers, we better know who God is and the power He carries through His name.  Many of you are going through your own trails even as your reading my column, but may I say to you; “Get a word from God, get in the boat, refuse to waiver, don’t panic, and watch your God calm the storm".

 Choices are for the Living

Hanging my red cord out the window so others can be saved

Michele Davenport

If you have a prayer request or questions please go to my new email fbmin02@gmail.com if you want to order my books “Ripened on the Vine”, a true story about my life, or “From My Heart to Yours Devotional” go to www.fbministries.com