August
13, 2003
WHERE
IS YOUR FAITH?
"He
said to them, 'Where is your faith' " (Luke 8:25, NKJV).
"Now
it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with
His disciples. And He said to them,
'Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.'
And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep.
And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling
with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and
awoke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!'
"Then
He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.
And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them,
'Where is your faith?'
And they
were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, 'Who can
this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they
obey Him!" (Luke 8:22-25).
Absorbed
in their efforts to save themselves, the disciples had forgotten
that Jesus was on board. Now, seeing their labor vain and
only death before them, they remembered at whose command they
had set out to cross the sea. In Jesus was their only hope.
Suddenly
a flash of lightning pierces the darkness, and they see Jesus.
He stands in their midst while the tempest rages. He lifts
His hands and says to the angry sea, " 'Peace,
be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great
calm. But He said to them, 'Why are
you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?'
" (Mark 4:39). The storm ceases. The billows rest. The
clouds roll away, and the stars shine. The boat rests on a
quiet sea. The command of Jesus brought quiet to the scene
of tumult.
Isaiah
wrote, "The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it
cannot rest" (Isaiah 57:20). However, with Jesus, there
is rest and peace, regardless of what else is going on. "Cast
all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter
5:7).
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