MORNING MANNA 7-21-23
YOU NEED CHRIST’S POWER
“And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” Mark 4:35–37
How you react to storms will determine their positive or negative effect in your life.
One New Year’s Day, in the Tournament of Roses parade, a beautiful float suddenly sputtered and quit. It was out of gas. The whole parade was held up until someone could get a can of gas. The amusing thing was this float represented the Standard Oil Company, even with its vast oil resources; its truck was out of gas.
As Christians, we represent the Lord to others. We possess an unlimited resource of God’s strength and power for our every need. Yet many times, we can sputter and quit when we face difficulties.
As seen in our verses, Christ had just spent a busy day preaching, teaching, and casting out demons. After He was done, Jesus said, “Let us pass over unto the other side.” He was directing them tothe east side of the lake, where opportunities to grapple with a desperate case of possession, set a captive free, and give the Gadarenes an opportunity of hearing the message of salvation awaited them.
Suddenly, on the trip across the lake, a great storm caused the boat to rock, sway, and take on water. The disciples feared for their lives. Don’t doubt the disciples’ skill for they were expert sailors. They simply needed Christ’s power.
Notice that the presence of Jesus on board the ship did not assure safety for the disciples. In our lives, simply because we are saved does not mean we will face calm seas and an easy life. We will face difficulties in which we will need God’s power.
Too many Christians expect God to remove all troubles once they are saved. God doesn’t remove trials (He uses trials to mold and grow us), but He does provide His power to sustain us through times of trial. Trials are not a time to question or doubt God, but to turn to Him as the disciples did.
The disciples’ first reaction was to trust their own instincts to weather the storm, but as they soon found, Jesus was the only One who could handle the storm. The same is true in our lives. While we may look to find our own way out, only Christ can give us power to survive the storms of life.
What is your storm in life? Is it a job loss, low finances, health trial, or another type of trouble? You will face storms in your life, but remember that even Christ’s twelve hand-picked disciples faced a time of testing. He wanted them to rely on Him to help them safely cross the stormy lake.
You cannot weather life’s storms alone. No amount of planning or preparing can help you avoid storms. You must turn to Christ for help during these times. Realize your inability to survive the storm without the Lord, and place your dependence completely in Him. Seek His power through prayer and allow Him to sustain you even through life’s most difficult storms.( Daily in the Word)
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, Tx
