Inspire Me!

By Pam Best

36 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. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:36-39

It amazes me how God's word lives. We can read and study a passage numerous times and always extract some new pearl of truth from it. Carefully read the passage above and then hold on to your seats.

My Interpretation:

In church this past Sabbath, Elder Stan Patterson took this passage of scripture to a whole new level. Read the passage again. When the disciples and Jesus came aboard the boat, Jesus was tired and went to sleep. While He was sleeping a storm rose up and the waves beat into the ship. Not only was the ship being battered by the storm, but waves of water filled the vessel and they were about to drown. The ship was full of water and Jesus lay asleep on a pillow in the bow. When they awakened Him, they asked, "Don't you even care that we are dying?" Jesus got up and rebuked the wind. ( I think I would have rebuked the disciples too. They didn't awake Him and petition Him with their trouble. They awoke Him and accused Him of not caring...but I digress). Close your eyes and imagine the storm beating the ship and the water rising above your waist and the winds fiercely rocking you to and fro. Imagine being overcome by the storm. Then imagine crying out to Jesus and Him saying, "Peace, be still!" and the winds and rain subsiding. Look out on the waters and watch the waves dying down and the sea calming. What else do you see? Do you see birds flying and the sun coming out over the clouds? Do you see peace? How many of you see people flailing about in the water or small boats capsized or pieces of wreckage? Remember that verse 36 says that several smaller boats set out with the ship that Jesus was on. Where are those boats? We forgot about them...just like we forget about our brothers and sisters now. As Christians, at least when the storms of life come and toss us about and we feel like we are going to drown....at least Jesus is in the boat; in our lives with us. At least we have a Savior that we can call on and He will cause the storm to cease. But what about those who don't know Him or about His saving grace? Christian or non-christian; we still go through the same trials and storms. All of us suffer, but could you imagine your life if Jesus wasn't on your ship? Think of the times that you ! thought you were gonna lose your mind, but God... You didn't know how you were gonna pay your bills or get food, but God... You didn't know how you would survive, but God... When Christ ascended into heaven, He left us with the responsibility of putting Him on all of the boats around us. It is our task to make sure that on the stormy seas of life everybody has Jesus on their boat. Go ye therefore. Put Jesus into somebody's life. Don't let them suffer through this life without Him. Life is a struggle, but imagine where you would be without God. It is the great commission. Will you go?

Opionions are those of the author - not necessarily those of TopBlacks

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