Passage of the Day:
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading, John 6:16-21.
Reflection:
When I was in high school, I learned how to control and maneuver a sailboat. Since one of my neighbors had a summer home on the Cheasapeake Bay, I was able to go sailing once a month. After mastering the Sunfish, the smallest sailboat, I moved on to larger sailing vessels. Perhaps, a little overconfident, my neighbor and I decided to sail in rough conditions, 2-to-4-foot waves on the bay. Sailing down wind was exhilarating until we had to turned around. We flipped over in the middle of the channel were all the freighters travel to and from Baltimore harbor. The sailboat that came and tried to rescue us already flipped over. When my friend lost his life jacket and made me swim to go retrieve it, I felt like the disciples in today’s passage, holding on for dear life. Just before an oncoming freighter was about the destroy both sailboats, a good Samaritan came to our rescue in a power boat, towing both sailboats to shore.
Prayerful Action:
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come, John 16:13.
Working Out Your Salvation:
After witnessing Jesus’ feed 5000 men, excluding women and children, the disciples let fear get the best of them when a storm suddenly crossed the Sea of Galilee. Rather than consider the power of God just demonstrated by Jesus hours earlier, they panicked. While I was staying afloat in the Chesapeake Bay, all I could think about was the freighter bearing down on Richie and me. Just like the fearful disciples, I failed to see that God is greater and more powerful than the situation I was enduring. No matter how bad things may look in the future, keep holding on to Jesus.
Song of the Day:
While the lyrics of today’s song may be ordinary, the message is clear. When the next spiritual storm in your life catches you off-guard, hold on to Jesus with everything you have.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 