October 08, 2012
Columbus Day
A squall came down,
the boat was being swamped and there was great danger. Normally a ship captain would take
inventory and ask the sailors about the oars, the sail and the life vests.
Jesus takes a different inventory when his followers are in the midst of a
storm, “Where is your faith?” (Luke
8:25 NIV)
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1 comment:
Gail;
-----The inventory Jesus takes in the storm is different than that taken by the captain of a ship in a storm? He would take inventory of faith, as you say. Faith is critically important. The rest of the mix does not work without it. Now, with Jesus’ presence in the mix, a word calms the seas and faith extends no further than trusting His speaking it. But Jesus’ actual presence was limited to only a handful of people during a short lifetime many lifetimes ago. It isn’t that we no longer have His presence. It’s that His presence is no longer physical and His purpose is not now generally served by miracles. So then the faith we have is inventoried in the products of wisdom, which would have the oars drawn in, the sails rolled up, the hatches battened, and the life jackets on as the storm approached. For faith would see through to the end of the storm when oars and sails and sailors would once again be needed because the hull would be dry and the ship afloat by tending to the truths of maneuvering a storm.
-----So to speak then, the inventory Jesus might take in our storms is of the safeguarding of our assets - physical, psychological, and spiritual. These need to remain undamaged when the storm is over, because there is yet more life needing to be lived. So let me posit that the inventory Jesus takes different than the captain is the inventory of faith during the blowing of a downright choice trade wind. Are the oars ready to put into the water during a lull? Are the sails unfurled and battened to capture the full force of the good wind? Are the life vests safely tucked away and the hatches open where they will not interfere with the business of taking full advantage of a God-given, good opportunity? For the most must be taken of good times because shortly thereafter comes again the storm. It is life. Praise God His Truth has full answer for all of it through faith.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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