Stormy Weather
I awoke this morning to a brisk breeze outside, the clouds are dark and look heavy, and there is a thick haze like just before a storm. I had plans to work outside in the yard today. We have several acres of land. Spring cleanup of tree limbs, debris left from the winter, along with controlling the new spring undergrowth, is a cumbersome task that must be done. I intended to work further on cleanup today, but with the way it looks outside, perhaps I should wait. I pulled up the local weather radar on the computer and it shows no moisture in the area, but it sure looks like rain outside. Could the radar be wrong? Even if it is, is that a reason not to get started on the work that needs to be done?
There is always a reason not to do something. There are always going to be obstacles and difficulties. Sometimes the looming storm is not real and other times it’s everything it looked like it could be. Often we have goals that we want and need to accomplish and we can plainly see the storm that looms. We see all the difficulty, heartache, and problems that we will or may face. Sometimes those storms are real or are imagined. I’m reminded of the time that Christ instructed the disciples to get aboard a ship and he would meet them later. Most people think of this story and point to this as the time that Jesus walked on the water and Peter took his eyes off of Christ and began to sink. This was a great miracle but for the point of this devotion. Let’s look at Christ instruction and the obedience of the disciples.
Now, we could get really deep and look at all the particulars but let’s look at the simplicity of this initial example of obedience. (Matthew Ch. 14) The disciples had just witnessed Christ feeding the multitude with two fishes and 5 loaves of bread. Matthew says that Christ “constrained” (KJV) or He compelled the disciples to get onto the boat and go to the other side. The disciples said they wanted to stay and help Him disperse the crowd, but Jesus said no and instructed them to get onto the boat. He apparently had to be fairly persistent to get them to leave. Why do you think that was? Do you think the disciples could see the storm coming as they looked across the Sea of Galilee? Could helping Christ with the crowd have been an excuse to postpone their leaving? Just as you may have stood on a sandy beach and looked into the ocean and once saw a storm moving in from afar, I’m sure the disciples could see the coming storm. They probably didn’t want to get onto that boat.
Disciples had a choice, obey Jesus or revolt and disobey. They could have responded by choosing to obey Christ instruction, to leave and not get on the boat, or to get onto the boat but try and sail another route. Having just witnessed such a great miracle, despite their fears they obeyed. Now, as it turned out their fears were justified and they sailed straight into the storm. Per Christ instruction they were headed across the Sea of Galilee and in the midst of the storm they met Christ walking on the water. Had they not have obeyed; they would not have met Christ. In fact, the story may have turned out much differently, perhaps even with a tragic ending.
So what is the point? Don’t miss your miracle because you fear the storm! It is in facing your difficulties and fears that you grow. Christ has called you to a life of excellence. Seek the direction that He is telling you to go and set sail. He will meet you there and He will be there in the midst of the storm!
Serving Christ by Serving you,
Bryan Taunton
Exec. Director FootWash Ministries
