Daily Devotional: Monday, August 26 – Walking In The Storm

“Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little religion,’ he mentioned, ‘why did you doubt?’” — Matthew 14:31

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Lamar Jackson received the NFL’s Most Precious Participant award for the 2023 season after throwing for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns and solely seven interceptions for a 102.7 quarterback ranking. At simply 27 years previous, it was already his second MVP award. His worth to his workforce and to the league is well known.

However even he can have an off recreation the place he makes a number of errors, and followers may very well boo him. Even superstars can’t stroll on water.

Water is important in correct quantities. We all know how vital rain is for rising timber, grass, flowers, gardens and crops. It’s a fragile stability particularly in low-lying areas alongside creeks, rivers and oceans. However when hurricanes blow by means of, areas expertise main flooding, dams breaking, roads closing, and homes and automobiles flooding with water.

These situations remind us how harmful deep waters may be. We are able to’t drive over the deep, harmful water in our automotive, nor stroll on it ourselves to get to security. It makes us admire much more the unimaginable miracle of Jesus strolling on the Sea of Galilee in the midst of a storm.

After chatting with 1000’s and performing miracles, Jesus had wished a while alone to wish, so He despatched His disciples forward in a ship and advised them He’d meet them later. The disciples adopted His directions, and doubtless thought Jesus would get in one other boat to cross the ocean when He was prepared. As a substitute, Jesus did one thing not possible. Whereas the disciples have been struggling to maintain the ship floating on the stormy seas in the midst of the evening, they thought they noticed anyone strolling on prime of the water. “Shortly earlier than daybreak Jesus went out to them, strolling on the lake” (Matthew 14:25).

The disciples have been startled and amazed. “When the disciples noticed him strolling on the lake, they have been terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they mentioned, and cried out in worry” (Matthew 14:26). However Jesus reassured them that it was He who walked earlier than them.

Then in an act of bravery — although nonetheless in all probability in shock at what he noticed earlier than him — Peter requested permission to stroll on the water with Jesus. “Then Peter acquired down out of the boat, walked on the water and got here towards Jesus. However when he noticed the wind, he was afraid and, starting to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (vv. 29-30). When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he began sinking within the water. “Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little religion,’ he mentioned, ‘why did you doubt?’” (v. 31).

In that second, Peter’s worry was louder than his religion. How typically can we are saying the identical occurs to us in the midst of uncertainty? However Jesus’ grace was there to catch him.

On that darkish, stormy evening, Jesus taught each disciple of each technology to look to Jesus and preserve our eyes on Him alone. Although we might by no means stroll on water like Jesus, we will do nice issues for God and do extra good by God’s energy working by means of us than we ever thought we might. Simply preserve your eyes on Him regardless of the storms surrounding you.

— Invoice Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia

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