Good Morning All,
It has been said you are either in a storm, coming out of storm or getting ready to go into a storm. The storms of life are what they are; “part of life.” It would be wonderful to ‘coast’ through life on calm waters without problems, but how would our faith grow? If one looks into the lives of the disciples, their issue was not that they did not see what Jesus Christ could do, but namely they had ‘seen’ so much that it became common place, therefore their faith was weak. When the storms rose, (such as the arrest of Jesus) many of them ran, most into the life they led before. They simply had a weakened faith and ran from the storm rather than trusting God in midst thereof.
It is a natural response for us to desire or to seek to get out of a storm. When that storm rolls in, we typically pray and ask God to ‘settle the seas’…yet He most often seeks to ‘strengthen the saint’. The Lord is not always interested in us getting out of the storms of life, but rather that we would get through them trusting Him. You see, it is during a storm when our faith is tested. Our faith is tried, to see what type of foundation it is built upon. If it is built upon sand, you will see that soul running, attempting to open another chapter of their life, when the one they are in is yet to be closed. If it is built upon the solid Rock, they will lock down and work through the storm until clear skies appear.
The apostle Paul was ship wrecked four times in his ministry, the last time was on the way to Rome, where he finally died for the name of Christ. In the midst of that storm, Paul simply trusted in the Words of God, that he must witness Christ in Rome. For that reason, the storm did not move him. Yes it was hard, sure it was painful, but eventually they landed upon an island called Melita, where the “barbarous people shewed us no little kindness”. (read Acts 27 and 28)
There is something to be said, in coming through the storm trusting Christ, usually on the other side, the Lord has prepared a fire to comfort you, food to feed you and friends to fellowship with you. All you have to do is come through the storm, trusting and resting in the words of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe you are in a storm today…just maybe you see the clouds gathering before you…batten down your faith upon the foundation of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ and He was get you through to the other side, where a fire, food and fellowship await.
Have a wonderful day.
Til the Shout,
Dr. B.J. Stagner Jr.
Pastor
New Testament Baptist Church
No comments:
Post a Comment