One of the most famous stories from the life of Jesus is the calming of the storm (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41 and Luke 8:22-25).
Think of the disciples sailing with Jesus in a boat when a life-threatening storm rages on the water. They are not ready to face it. In a panic, they realize that they may die. All this time, Jesus is sleeping peacefully.
Instead of watching how Jesus responded to their situation, the disciples let the situation dictate their response.
After they ask Jesus to do something, He calms the storm, but first by asking them, “Why are you afraid?”
He gave this mild rebuke, not because they did not believe that Jesus could save them from the storm, but because they found it difficult to believe that He would help them through it.
They knew Jesus was in their boat, they just didn’t understand what He was fully capable of.
Jesus was their Strength in the storm and above the storm.
Jesus was their Sustainer, Protector, Healer and Leader.
Jesus was a source of peace and strength for them.
And with us is the same God who was with the disciples in the boat. No matter what your current storm looks like, Jesus is there. There isn’t a situation you’ve been through that Jesus didn’t go through with you.
Jesus was, is and will come. He was there at the beginning of time and He will be there at the end of it. He has seen every event in human history and has not abandoned anyone who cries out to Him and hopes in Him.
Nothing is impossible for God, and His character never changes. He is for you, not against you, so you have nothing to fear. And that’s why you can make the promise of Isaiah 41:13 your own today:
“Because I, the Lord, your God, am holding your right hand. It is I who say to you: ‘Do not be afraid, I will help you.’
When we became Christians and first believed in Jesus, we began a journey of faith. We have made a commitment to become disciples of Jesus who keep His commandments and trust Him.
In his instructions to Timothy, the Apostle Paul encourages him to fight the good fight of faith. This means that the journey of faith will often be difficult. Sometimes it will be messy, difficult and painful. Paul’s words serve as a reminder that sometimes faith feels like a struggle.
However, this journey of faith is a struggle for goodness, beauty and faithfulness, not a struggle with people. We are fighting against our broken nature as well as God’s enemies in the spiritual realm.
Struggle often feels like making the right decision, even if it’s not the easiest decision. It can mean being gentle when we want to be harsh. It can mean choosing love when it’s easier to be selfish.
Fighting the good fight means staying faithful to Jesus throughout your life. You were called to a new life in Christ when you came to faith, and you are called to remain faithful throughout your life.
So how do you stay faithful? One way to develop faithfulness is to read God’s Word daily. When you spend time with Him regularly, you begin to love what God loves and hate what He hates.
But when you seek God in this way, it is also important to have friendships with people who can encourage you. Having two or three people in your life who can help keep you accountable is a necessary part of your faith journey. As you consider what next steps you need to take to fight the good fight, remember that you are not fighting alone. God is with you, and as you draw close to Him, He will give you the strength you need to successfully complete your faith journey.
In the Gospel of Matthew, it is recorded that Jesus said the following words:
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I also be in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
We know from many other passages in the Bible that God’s ability to be with us does not depend on a packed stadium or an empty hall. He is able to be just as present, regardless of whether more or less than 2-3 people have gathered.
So, in this particular case, what did Jesus mean?
When we look at the surrounding context, Jesus is actually explaining to His disciples how to correct a believer who has sinned against them. He encourages them:
• First, go talk to the person alone
• Second, if they don’t seem to be listening the first time, bring one or two others with you
• Third, if they still won’t listen, take the matter to the church
• Fourth, if they still refuse to listen to the wisdom and counsel of the church, treat them as you would an unbeliever.
So when Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in their midst,” He is reminding them that as they handle church discipline situations with humility, grace, and love, He will be with them in the process.
Throughout God’s Word, we receive instructions on how to handle various situations—whether it’s money, relationships, sin, health problems, and more. And even when things don’t seem black or white, we can listen to the Holy Spirit and listen to the leaders He has appointed.
Jesus knew that conflicts and problems would inevitably arise, so He taught His disciples to ask for whatever they needed (see verse 19) and promised to be with them on their journey.
The death and resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is through Jesus that we receive the free gift of salvation. Jesus’ death not only atones for all our bad deeds, but also gives us the opportunity to have a relationship with God.
However, there are many other benefits that came through the death and resurrection of Jesus. One aspect that Paul focuses on in 1 Corinthians 15 is the victory that comes through Jesus.
The scriptures say that Jesus’ death not only solved the problem of our sins, but also defeated the power of sin. This means that we can live a life filled with the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.
Jesus’ death and resurrection also defeated the consequence of our sin, death. We no longer need to fear death because Jesus has power over it. He rose from the dead, and now He gives eternal, fulfilling life to those who believe in Him.
This is why Paul encourages his readers to stand firm in the faith. The victory has already been won by Jesus, and as Christians we are participants in that victory. Nothing can take away God’s love. Nothing can separate us from His plan of salvation.
Even so, Paul encourages us to continue working for the Lord because God’s work will never be in vain. Since Jesus has already won, all work done in His name will also bring victory.
What is the Lord’s work? It is to continue to share the hope and love of Jesus with other people. It is love for God and love for others. Each of us has an area of service—at home, in the neighborhood, or at work. And because Jesus won, we must be confident in doing the work that God has given us.
So let’s be extravagant in showing our love to others in our lives. Do not hesitate to share His good news with other people.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest! — Matthew 11:28
Once a man was driving a truck on a country road and saw a woman carrying a huge bag. He stopped and offered to give her a ride. After thanking her sincerely, the woman got out of the car.
But after a minute, the driver noticed a strange thing: the woman was still holding her big burden in her arms, although she was already sitting in the car! Extremely surprised, he pleaded with her, “Ma’am, please put your burden on the floor and rest! My car is quite capable of carrying you and your belongings. Just relax!”
What do we do with our burdens of fear, anxiety, and worry when life hits hard times? Do we stubbornly drag them on ourselves, like that woman, or do we give them to the Lord, finding peace in Him? Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!” (Matthew 11:28). But still, I often find myself carrying burdens instead of releasing them by giving them to Jesus.
We are freed from burdens when we bring them to the Lord in prayer. Apostle Peter says: “Put all your sorrows on Him, because He takes care of you!” (1 Pet. 5:7). The Lord really cares about us, so we can rest our souls in Him. Instead of carrying these burdens that weigh heavily on us and tire us, we can give them to the Lord. Let Him carry your burden.
I’m so tired, Lord. I bring you my burdens today. Please take them and carry them for me.
Prayer is the place where God takes our burdens on His shoulders.
Author: Laurence Darmany
Have you ever had a question or concern that you felt you needed to resolve on your own?
Sometimes we shy away from asking questions because we think we should already know the answers. But Jesus invites us to bring all our doubts, fears and questions to Him.
In the 3rd chapter of the Gospel of John, we see how Nicodemus, a respected and influential religious man, came to Jesus alone one evening to ask him a few questions.
Many think that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he was afraid that the other Pharisees, who were always looking for ways to get rid of Jesus, would see Nicodemus and condemn him.
Being a Pharisee, Nicodemus studied the Holy Scriptures all his life. But he still didn’t have answers to all the questions. Instead of relying on his own abilities and knowledge, Nicodemus gave up his pride and status and came to Jesus.
Although Nicodemus may have feared the judgment of the Pharisees, Jesus did not judge him. He welcomed Nicodemus’ question and answered him truthfully.
Answering Nicodemus, Jesus says the following: “But whoever lives in the truth, he comes to the light, so that his deeds may be revealed, because they were done in God.” (NPU)
Jesus says that everyone who lives the truth and follows Him lives in the light. Those who do not live like Jesus run from the light and live in darkness.
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, fearing what others might think. But Jesus called him to live in the light and follow Him. This meeting with Jesus changed the life of Nicodemus. He no longer followed Jesus in the shadows. In John 7 he defended Jesus to the other Pharisees, and in John 19 he came to bury Jesus’ body.
Like Nicodemus, when we choose to walk with Jesus, we walk from darkness to light and from fear to courage. And when we come to Jesus, He accepts us as we are and leads us to His truth.
Come, let’s bow down and fall on our knees before the Lord who made us! — Psalm 94:6
In many pictures depicting the manger, you can see the wise men and the shepherds who came to Jesus in Bethlehem at the same time. But according to the Gospel of Matthew, these wise men appeared in Bethlehem much later. Jesus, of course, was no longer in the manger, but in the house. “Entering the house, they found the Child there with Mary, His mother. And they fell on their faces and worshiped Him. And, opening their treasures, they offered Him their gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2:11).
Realizing that the arrival of the Magi took place later than we used to think, can teach us a useful, inspiring lesson in the days after the New Year. As the holidays pass and we return to our daily routines, it is important to remember that there is always a reason to celebrate. After all, Jesus “even after Christmas” is worth bowing to Him and creating a holiday.
Jesus Christ has the name Emmanuel – which means “God is with us” (Mt. 1:23). He is always with us, at any time of the year. He promised to be there every day (Matthew 28:20). And if He is always with us, then we can worship Him in our hearts every day, sincerely believing that He will show His faithfulness in the years to come. Wherever we are, we can always look for Jesus to bow down to Him and glorify Him – like the wise men once did.
Lord Jesus, once upon a time the wise men sought You to worship You as the born King. Help me to submit my will to You and follow You wherever You lead me.
In order to bow to Christ, one must “find” Him.
Author: John Blaze
And the Lord God called to Adam and said to him: “Where are you?” — Genesis 3:9
My son likes my voice – except when I call him loudly and harshly: “Where are you?” When I call him that, it means that he has done some damage and is now trying to hide from me. I do, however, want my son to hear my disgruntled voice and to know that I am concerned for his well-being and do not want him to harm himself.
Once upon a time, Adam and Eve constantly heard God’s voice in the Garden of Eden. But after disobeying and tasting the forbidden fruit, both hid from Him, hearing: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). They did not want to meet God, because they knew that they had done something bad, something that the Lord commanded them not to do (Genesis 3:11).
When God called Adam and Eve and found them in the Garden of Eden, His words contained rebuke and judgment (Genesis 3:13-19). But the Lord also showed grace and gave mankind hope through the promise that He would send a Savior (Genesis 3:15).
In fact, God does not need to “search” for us. He always knows where we are and what we are trying to hide from Him. But He seeks, as a loving Father, to speak to our hearts, offering forgiveness and restoration. He wants us to hear His voice and obey.
Thank You, Lord, for Your love and care. Thank you for sending your Son and our Savior so that we may have the promise of forgiveness and spiritual rebirth.
When God speaks to you, do not be silent.
Author: Kayla Ochoa
And we have this commandment from Him, that whoever loves God should also love his brother! — 1 John 4:21
When a woman from the church Karen attended was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), the situation seemed desperate. This brutal disease affects the nerves and muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. The insurance wasn’t enough for the family to hire a caregiver, but the grief-stricken husband couldn’t even think about putting his wife in a nursing home.
Karen was a nurse by profession and had experience in caring for such people, so she began to come and help the poor woman. However, she quickly realized that she would not be able to take care of this weak woman without forgetting the needs of her own family. Therefore, she began to teach other members of the church to care for the sick. During the seven years of the disease, Karen trained 30 volunteers who surrounded this family with love, prayers and practical help.
“Whoever loves God must also love his brother,” taught the apostle John (1 John 4:21). And Karen showed a vivid example of such love. She had the necessary skills, compassion and vision to bring people together to effectively help this sick woman. One nurse’s love for those in need eventually multiplied into the love of many.
What talents and abilities of yours could God use to help those in need? Ask God to show you ways to use your gifts for His Kingdom.
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Jesus Christ
Author: Tim Gustavson
Changed personality
Do you ever feel like you need to start over? If so, you’re in good company. Peter had to do it.
Peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, who was called by Jesus Himself to leave the life of a fisherman and join Him during His ministry on earth. On the night Jesus was betrayed, Peter followed Him to the mock trial. The people in that area were openly hostile and aggressive towards Jesus. Imagine what it’s like to be surrounded by people who treated Peter the same way they treated Jesus.
In the 26th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew and the 22nd chapter of Luke, we see that Peter preferred to behave discreetly. He wanted to remain unnoticed by the angry mob. However, it didn’t work for long: three different people recognized him as a follower of Jesus and told him about it. Each of the three times Peter denied ever knowing Jesus.
However, if we look further, we find that Peter does the exact opposite. In the 2nd chapter of Acts, Peter stands before a large crowd that may tear him to pieces. Instead of denying Jesus, he proclaims the secret of life: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and receive the Holy Spirit.
It’s risky. What will people think? What if they turn away from him just as they turned away from Jesus? And yet he was brave. He has changed from who he was earlier in this story.
How has Petol changed? He was restored by Jesus. He also received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Between these passages of Scripture, two important events took place: Jesus met with Peter and restored him by grace. Second, the Holy Spirit descended from heaven on the followers of Jesus. With the Holy Spirit came power that enables believers to live bold, transformed lives (Acts 2).
Many of us face moments when the right response is to be bold for Jesus, and the easy way out is to hang our heads. What will people think? What will they do?
Here’s the great news: we’re not alone. We don’t have to be brave on our own. The Holy Spirit is with us every day. He gives us the strength to be brave and change. With His help we can be renewed daily.
You can start today. Courage is now. The Holy Spirit is ready to go with you.
