Thursday, November 17, 2016

November 17, 2016

"In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:25

From the experience recorded in this verse I draw this significant truth - "God isn't limited by my concept of Him, but I will be!"

The disciples thought they had a good concept of Who Jesus was but they discovered they weren't even close! So, when they found themselves imperiled by the raging storm, they feared for their lives.

In their fear they badly misjudged Jesus and accused Him of being unconcerned. Fear caused their faith to be limited to what they saw rather than what they knew. What they saw was huge waves driven by fierce winds and a boat being filled with water while Jesus slept soundly in the bow of the boat. It appeared the ship would sink and they would drown.

Seriously, do you think  they really believed that Jesus was unconcerned? I can't imagine they did, but life can get confusing in a storm. When emotions get inflamed feelings will trump faith. 

I have been there and done that!

Perhaps you have, too.

They faced a choice in those perilous moments. Either they could let their danger be define by the storm, or they could choose to define it based on their Savior's power. Their concept of God was being tested. Jesus wanted to teach them to think outside of the storm.

Over the years as I have pastored and counseled and dealt with thousands of people, I have observed the importance of having a Biblical concept of God. It is crucial to maintaining spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health.

God knows you better than you know yourself. His "you concept" is better than your self concept! His "you concept" is better than your God concept. He wants you to know Him better so you can trust Him more, and love Him more, and serve Him better so when life gets bigger than you, you will remember He is bigger than life!

Sometimes, as Luke's account demonstrates, God is willing to rock your boat in order for you to experience a fresh encounter with Him through His Son, Jesus. I am not implying that God causes the storms but He knows when you need to have your boat rocked and He allows a storm to buffet you. But when that happens, remember that Jesus is in your boat and the storm is under His control!

If you are living in the midst of a storm right now, if your boat is being rocked, remember, Jesus is in your boat with you and He wants you to learn how to think outside of the storm! 


Look for Jesus in the middle of your storm and you will have a fresh encounter with Him!

  
That is unless you haven't invited Him into your boat.