Tag: inspiration

Awakening Your Faith

I was once told by a former Sunday School teacher that when something happens in “threes” it may be wise to take heed to what’s going on.  This past week I heard 3 different people at 3 different times talking about the time the disciples had followed Jesus onto a boat, but a great storm arose.  It wasn’t just a small storm with some thunder and lightning.  It was a very scary time in which the disciples believed they may face an untimely death.  The word perish means to “suffer death, typically in a violent or sudden way.  As the disciples feared for their lives as the water was crashing over into the boat they finally found Jesus asleep in the boat.  

They awoke Him crying out that they are perishing, yet He was the one trying to wake them up to a new level of faith.  Jesus said unto them, “Why are you so afraid, and have such little faith?” At this point Jesus had not yet calmed the storm.  This means the thunder was still clapping and the lightning was lighting up the sky.  The winds were blowing fiercely and waves were still crashing down inside the ship. 

Jesus was still laying down when He had asked them about their little faith.  “…Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the sea; and there was a great calm” Matthew 8:26.  By this time in the disciples following Jesus they had heard Him preach and teach.  They had seen Him heal all manner of illnesses and cast out demons, and when they were now at a point in their lives having to face a storm they knew where to go in order for Him to save them.  

At the time they possibly had no idea what Christ was going to do in order to save them, because they all were astonished and marveled being amazed that even the wind and the sea obeyed His command.  This was to give them a glimpse that He was from the beginning of the earth and more specifically on the second and third days was the one who created the heavens and the sea. If He had spoken them into existence then of course He could tell them to stop. 

Through facing storms in our own lives we can hopefully hear the Spirit telling us to “wake up your faith.”  See that Christ can keep us safe even in the midst of the storm.  We can learn from the disciples to follow Him and learn from the wind and the sea to obey Him. 

Our faith and obedience will help us weather any storms of life we may face.

~TRS 1/19/25

Justice Served

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the “just” person as “one who typically does what is morally right and is disposed to giving everyone his or her due.”  Cornell Law School explains that justice is “the ethical, philosophical idea that people are to be treated impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably by the law.  The laws are to ensure that no harm befalls another, and that, where harm is alleged, a remedial action is taken; both the accuser and the accused receive a fair trial.  

In the gospel of Mark chapter 3 tells of a time when Jesus entered into the synagogue where there was a man with a withered hand.  The Pharisees watched Jesus to see if He would heal the man on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.  To be accused is to have a claim that one has done something wrong or illegal.   1 Peter 5:8 informs us that we are to “be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”   Satan means adversary or accuser and that is what he will do.

The devil will bring up your past and all the things done that go against the will of God.  None are perfect and all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.  Just like whoever makes a game it is the inventor of it that gets to make the rule book.  God is creator and creation and those created need to know the rules to live by.  It has been said that none of us play by the rules all the time.  Romans 3:20 explains that it is “by the law the knowledge of sin” is known.  Since we all have sinned then the only way to be justified is to have one who can pay the debt or fine we cannot pay ourselves. 

With faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe through the act of repentance we can one day stand before God knowing our debt was paid.  Some unwisely speak to say that “God will be my judge” with the thought that as long as they are a “good person” and have not done any “major” wrongs in life, then they will be granted access to Heaven.  However, this is not going by “the rule book.”  

When true justice is served it will be based upon whether your debt has been paid or not.  We can’t pay it but a way was made.  If one has not accepted that then you will be judged according to the rules and you will have to give an account for all wrongs done.  True justice is to get consequences for that which was not done right.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.  Yet, there is hope that we are made righteous through our faith and belief that will give us rays of hope into eternity.  

TRS 12-3-23