Your Daily Devotional for September 9, 2006

 

September 9, 2006

 

100% Able

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 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? 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 4:37-39

 

In this text, we see Jesus on board a ship with His disciples, headed across the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus went onto the ship, He stepped down into the bottom part of the ship where He fell asleep. As a great storm arose, the disciples became frightened for their lives. They awoke Jesus and were somewhat upset that He had remained asleep while they were about to die. Jesus then got up and stilled the storm with three words.

 

These verses give us a glimpse of the unique nature of our Saviour. Here we see the fact that He got weary from teaching all day and needed to sleep. This proves that Jesus was 100% man. Isn’t it interesting that Christ became tired just like you and I do? Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” He experienced weariness, hunger, and temptation! I’m glad that when I am going through a tough time and need some help, I have a Saviour who knows what I am going through!

 

We also see another aspect of Christ from verse 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.” Christ may have gotten weary, but He still had the power to calm the storm. Yes, Christ was 100% man, but He is also 100% God. Our God not only can relate to your trials and testing, but He can also help you through them. He calmed this physical storm by the words of His mouth! Think what He can do to the storms in your life!

 

Christ has the power to calm any storm in your life. Whether it is marriage problems, financial difficulties, or health needs, Christ can take care of them all. There is no storm too big that God cannot still with three little words. Psalm 89:8-9 says, “O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? Or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” Even when the waves of crisis start to rise, Christ says to turn to Him. He is able to take care of you.

 

One author once wrote: "We signed up for a hike with a ranger, who told us a remarkable thing: when a tree's life is threatened, stressed by the elements of fire, drought, or other calamity, it twists beneath its bark to reinforce and make itself stronger. On the surface, this new inner strength may not be visible, for the bark often continues to give the same vertical appearance. Only when the exterior is stripped away, or when the tree is felled, are its inner struggles revealed."

 

Just as a tree, we need an inner strengthening to be able to survive the trials in our life. That strengthening comes from Christ. He showed us that He was 100% man when He felt the weariness of this world, but He also showed that He is 100% God by calming the storm. We can be sure He is also 100% able to help you with whatever you are going through. What burden do you bear today? Give it to Christ and let Him handle it! He always does a better job!

 

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