Lessons from Matthew 8: Follow Jesus
To follow Jesus means to break from our former ways of living and doing things. It may very well seem to cost us everything, but the rewards far outweigh the cost!
So won’t you follow Jesus and say yes to that thing He is calling you to do?
Follow Jesus
After this, Jesus, himself climbed into the boat along with His disciples (Matthew 8:23). Apparently worn out, Jesus curled up and went to sleep. While He did, it appears that without warning a storm came up and the waves began to sweep over the boat, threatening to overturn Jesus and His disciples. And when they could take it no longer, they woke Jesus up by asking Him to save them. They thought they were going to drown!
It seems kind of funny to us that after the disciples had just seen and heard all that Jesus had done, and with His physical presence right there with them, they still feared for their lives. Yet most of these men were fishermen and they knew how treacherous those seas could be. Their fear would have been legitimate, but the factor to the equation they had left out was Jesus!
Don’t we do the same thing?
The storms of life come and we think God has placed them there to undo us when quite the opposite is true. God often sends these storms as life lessons. (Sometimes storms are directly related to correction. Or, we bring the storm on ourselves.) But these disciples had done nothing wrong here; they were simply following Jesus.
Jesus sent the storm as a life lesson.
And so Jesus, in reply to their request, rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith and then calmed the storm with His words. The disciples stared in amazement! And they asked the question, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”
This, for us, is a lesson to not doubt or fear when God is in our boat!
Although the disciples had witnessed many miracles, they panicked in this storm.
As experienced fishermen they knew the dangers, but what they did not know was that Christ could control not only disease, and demons, but also any impending disaster.
We too sometimes buy into fear or doubt or give way to pressure or look at the “what could be’s.” We fall prey to our human nature instead of trusting in who God is and what His Word promises.
The same God who exercised power and authority over the storm has the power and authority over our lives. He can still the storms of life we find ourselves in.
When we put our problems in God’s hands He puts His peace in our heart.
Where is it that you need to exercise faith and trust in God’s overwhelming power and authority to save you through the storms of life?
What is it you are facing that seems to be overtaking you? Won’t you place your trust in Jesus, for He cares about you more than you will ever know?
Just let Him prove Himself and then give Him all the glory and honor due His name! That’s all He asks in return!
Terri Hamman
Faith & Fitness Coach