The Book

 

He Knows My name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And hears me when I call

~He Knows My Name~ 

Like I always do, I found myself listening to a radio preacher on my way to work this week.  Something he said made me think.  That the bible I read knows me...more than I know it.  I found this interesting because more often than not I am struck by just how much of myself that I see in scripture.  Some time ago a dear friend related to me that the bible was Gods love letter to me,  Amen.  All too often we see the scripture in a more direct and serious way, like that two edged sword {Hebrews 4:12}.  Indeed, the scripture carries more than enough messaging to help us through our lives.  However, I've come to realize that the bible is not simply a set of rules to live by, it never has been.  Instead, the scriptures tell us the story of Christ Jesus from beginning to end.  From the prophesy predicting His birth {Isaiah 7:14}.  To His birth in Bethlehem {Luke 2:6-7}.  In fact, this book is more about the story of Jesus than it is about rules for our own lives.  You might even say that through this book that God is introducing us to Jesus.  Obviously, His life is chronicled from birth to His death upon the cross.  Oh yes, the crucifixion.  Well, the book tells us that the life of Jesus did not end there.  For we know that Christ died and three days later He rose again.  We know that after His death that He was seen by many {1 Corinthians 15:6}.  We also know that the book tells us of how it is that Jesus lives today {Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:8}.  It is here that many believers fall short.  They look at the book and assume that Jesus is alive but in heaven at the Fathers side.  Well, that is not what the book tells us.  No, the story of Jesus tells us something entirely different.  Where we might see a empty space, the book assures us that Jesus is indeed with us today.  So, are we to believe only some of the truth of the book?  Well, that would be cherry picking the very story of Jesus. 

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

The scripture would be remiss without telling of the life of Jesus.  That is, the ONGOING life of Jesus.  Most believers know all too well the regurgitated stories of the life of Christ that they have learned in church.  I get it.  However, in order to better know Jesus we need to step beyond the stories we know to be true and began to accept the truth about Jesus which we rarely do.  I speak to Christ Jesus in me, that is obvious from what I write.  Yet, mention that truth to many believers today and you'll get a blank stare.  I do not speak heresy, but Jesus.  The apostle Paul spoke to the reality of Christ in him as well {Galatians 2:20}.  Paul spoke to the Lord revealing Christ in him {Galatians 1:15-16}.  Just because a truth is difficult for us to comprehend does not make it any less true.  Therefore, the book tells us of the Life of Christ Jesus today that we would be one with Him.  Yes, that was the prayer of Jesus in the garden {John 17:21}.  That we would be one with He and the Father.  I think that it's safe to say that His prayer has been answered.  So, where is Jesus today if not constrained to heaven?  Well, each day when I look into the mirror I am reminded of just where He is.  It is Christ Jesus who lives in me.  Everything I do, say and experience I do as Christ who is in me.  And here's another curveball, is it the same Jesus in me when I behave badly?  Yes!  Just because I choose in my flesh to act out does not mean that Jesus has left the building.  Perhaps I'll be hearing those accusations of heresy again soon enough.  Whether it is good, bad or ugly, Jesus remains in me.  How do I know this is true?  I read it in a book somewhere.  

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1: 27 NKJV 

~Scott~  

A God For Me But Not For Thee

 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD.  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts'"

Isaiah 55: 8 - 9 NKJV 

The question came up again this week.  You know...THE question.  That question which somehow makes every Christian pastor and scholar trip over their words as they try to describe how it is that the Lord works at times.  The best answer I ever got when I asked a pastor the question is, "We should just let God be God."  I agree.  So, why is it that God allows good things to happen to seemingly godly people?  This past week a dear Christian friend and brother was hospitalized with virus complications.  I watched my own other, a good Christian lady who knew the Lord, suffer in her final years.  How is it that God, whose very love and grace we cannot deny, would allow His own children to suffer?  Well, to better understand this we need to take a step back and really look at what He is doing.  Is this my God...or our God?  Should we only expect good from the Lord?  I would say no.  For the scripture is full of instances where devout men and women of God were subjected to bad circumstances.  Our very Lord and Savior, Jesus, was subjected to horrible scourging on His journey to the cross.  However, what we need to realize is the blood that He shed...was for us.  All of us.  That includes the good, the bad and the ugly among us.  The crucifixion of Christ covered all of Gods children.  It is through the work of Christ that we are saved.  Again, that means everyone.  One of the most iconic scriptures we will ever know attests to this.  In John 3:16 we're told that God gave His only Son for our salvation.  Yet, I consider verse 17 to be a key point in this passage.  In verse 17 we're introduced to the love and grace of our heavenly Father once again..."That the world through Him might be saved."  God wasn't playing favorites when He provided for our salvation.  God was...being God.  I have found that too many Christians have developed a "God for me but not for thee" attitude when it comes to how God works in our lives.  The difficulty with this belief is that when God allows hardship into our lives, our first reaction is to question and put the blame at the feet of the Lord.  A turning point in how I see God happened after  my mother passed away.  For more than a few years I had been praying, fasting and tithing in order that He would relieve her suffering.  Whatever the institutional church recommended for enticing the Lords favor, I did it.  Of course, it didn't work.  I have never been angrier at God than I was in the days after her passing.  Why did He not answer my prayers?  What I failed to realize at the time was that God HAD lovingly answered my prayers in His own way.  My mother was no longer suffering.  

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12: 8 - 10 NKJV 

I find it interesting that the pride of many believers would somehow give them a front row seat into the grace of the Lord.  That God would save His best for those who believed in Him.  The apostle Paul reminds us that indeed there is no partiality with God {Romans 2:11}.  Where do we get such ideas?  Well, thousands of years of church tradition certainly don't help our cause.  We're told that we can curry the Lords favor with regular church attendance, bigger tithes of more hours serving the church.  The catholic church was infamous for selling indulgences in the middle ages.  A indulgence was basically a get out of jail free card, absolving a individual from the punishments of hell...for a price to be paid to the church.  In a twisted way, the modern church continues in the tradition of indulgences.  We're told that there may be a way to ease the Lord into acting in our favor...through prayer, tithing and service.  Call it what you want, I still see it as man trying to influence God to act.  So, we return to the lesson which I learned after the death of my mother.  We let God be God.  That in no way means that He is not keenly aware of our struggles, but that He is working all things into His will.  What is the will of the Father?  I believe that one of Gods greatest desires is that He would be known by His children.  That is...all of His children.  Paul helps us to understand how He works this into our own lives in Galatians.  Here, he introduces us into the reality of Christ in you {Galatians 2:20}.  How will Gods children come to know Him?  Through us!  Through those whom Christ Jesus lives through.  Jesus Himself speaks to this as He talks about others seeing the Lord in believers {Matthew 5:14-16}.  Not only will we allow God to be God, but we will free Him to work through us as well.  

"You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5: 14 - 16 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

I Believe

 

That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 

Romans 10: 9 - 11 NKJV 

Whenever it is that I get to talking to someone about knowing Jesus the question always comes up.  "What do I need to do in order to be saved?"  For me, knowing the man Jesus is less about obtaining my salvation and more about knowing that I am.  Yet, many will continue to wonder just how it is that they can achieve the assurance which I seem to have.  Let me tell you, that assurance did not come easy or cheap.  I could tell anyone that all they need do is believe in Jesus, but that is only half of the issue.  The apostle Paul spoke to the truth of confessing the Lord Jesus with our mouths and believing Him in our hearts in order to guarantee our own salvation.  First off, why is it that we even need to be saved?  I mean, most of us have lived a good and righteous life...right?  Yeah, keep telling yourselves that.  The scriptures point to something different.  We're told that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God {Romans 3:23}.  The Concordant scripture tells us a little differently, that "All have sinned and are wanting of the glory of God."  So, believe it or not, no matter how many accolades you may have achieved, you've sinned somewhere along the line.  I have , you have, we all have.  That is a part of our history going back to the garden of Eden, where mans choice led to a false belief that he could somehow be like God.  Spoiler alert...He ALREADY WAS like God!  How could man, created in Gods own image {Genesis 1:27}, and having His breath of life {Genesis 2:7} be anything but one with the Lord?  From the beginning, God has been a intimate part of who we are.  So entered sin into the world.  Now, God could have left things where they stood.  Could have punished Adam and Eve and been done with it.  The problem is, had He done that the sin issue would never have been dealt with.  For that we needed a Savior.

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5: 11 - 12 NKJV 

And this is the testimony, that God gives us life eonian, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who has not the Son of God has not the life.

1 John 5: 11 - 12 Concordant Scripture 

Jesus was Gods answer to our sin issue.  It was Jesus who became sin on our behalf{2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Jesus took upon Himself that punishment that was meant for me...and you.  Through Christ Jesus we are assured that our sin issue has been dealt with {Romans 6:6-11}.  Where many Christians fall short in their own pursuit to know Jesus is knowing the truth in their own hearts.  There is a reason that Paul tells believers to confess with their mouths and to believe in their hearts.  For unto the heart...we believe.  Our assurance comes from a knowing that what Jesus has accomplished in us is real.  We understand that the old man I used to be is no longer alive.  Again it is Paul who assures us that the old man has passed away and what remains is a new creation in Christ {2 Corinthians 5:17}.  Now, remember I mentioned the spoiler alert from earlier?  How Adam and Eve fell for the lie of the accuser that they could somehow "Be like God?"  Well, aside from the fact that they were intimately created by God, through Christ Jesus we are assured that we are one with God today.  Paul assures us of this in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  How is it that I can be confident in knowing Jesus?  Because I believe in my heart what is true.  My mother used to have a saying, "God spoke it...I believe it!"  Well, God has indeed spoken to our union in Him.  I suppose that I could incorporate that into my answer the next time someone asks me why I believe in Jesus.  God spoke it...I believe it.  

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 

Acts 4: 12 NKJV

~Scott~ 

The Greatest Gift

 

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9: 6 NKJV 

I've heard from a  lot of people this year who are tired of how commercial the Christmas season has become.  That they are tired of all of the sales which begin in earnest even before the last turkey leg of Thanksgiving dinner has been devoured.  This year I heard of more than a few Thanksgiving dinners that were interrupted by "Earlier than black Friday" sales.  It's funny, but I recall a time when you never left the dinner table until everyone had finished.  You never went shopping on Thanksgiving...because there was nothing open!  Yes, even those perpetual retail kingpins of seven - eleven were closed on holidays.  Obviously, we've come a long way from back in the day until our current society.  We might be the first in line for that door buster deal, but we've lost something else along the way.  What we seem to have lost is our appreciation for the greatest gift ever given.  Now, when I mention greatest gift, many people will immediately think of the newest Play Station or a new car.  Wrong answer.  For the gift I am referring to is the gift given to us out of the love and mercy of our heavenly Father.  Over two thousand years ago, God bestowed His wonderful gift upon the world in the form of a infant.  The excitement and joy of the birth of Christ Jesus would soon lead to wonder, criticism, torture and His ultimate death on the cross.  However, as a good friend gently reminded me this week, that cross can never symbolize life.  Therefore, we know in our hearts that the crucifixion of Jesus did not lead to His own death, but to life.  Jesus has defeated death once and for all, three days after His own death He rose again.  So, why do I refer to Jesus as the greatest gift?  Because...He is.  Simply put, Jesus was God born of man {John 1:1-2, John 1:13}.  That is, God came into the world as a infant.  What gifts have you ever received which have transformed your life in ways Jesus has?  I can't think of any.  It was in the name of Jesus that Peter healed the lame {Acts 3:6}.  Is the reason why people have become weary of the commercialistic nature of the holiday season because they are seeking something more than a last minute sale?  Anything is possible I guess.  For me, knowing that gifts and sales are only temporary riches compared to a life in Christ is part of the greatest gift ever given.

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Luke 2: 11 NKJV 

I have to admit that even before I grew weary of all of the sales and door buster deals, the Christmas season lost some of its magic for me.  It was on Christmas eve of 2016 that my mother was admitted to the hospital for the last time.  She passed away less than a month later.  So, I look at Christmas eve in a different way now than I used to.  Like most, I used to see it as a season of buying and celebrating.  Of Christmas trees and holiday shows.  Not anymore.  Maybe I'm getting nostalgic in my middle age, but my view of Christmas is now more Jesus centered than ever.  He is the greatest gift I was ever given (although it took me some time to open it).  Once I opened this free gift, I realized what I had been missing.  The freedom of knowing that I have forgiveness {Romans 6: 6-11}.  The realization that Jesus has always been there with me {Galatians 2:20}.  Best of all...it was free.  However, we do well to remember the price that Jesus paid to deliver this gift to us.  It was Jesus who became sin in our place {2 Corinthians 5:21}.  Never forget as well that it is by the Lords love for us that Jesus delivered this gift to all mankind {John 3:16-17}.  Yes, the gift is given freely to all, regardless if they decide to open it or not.  There will be those who allow their gift to sit dormant for years before being led to open it.  Then, there will be those who will choose to never open the gift.  That is their choice.  The gift is given freely to all.  One added bonus, this is a gift that never expires and you won't need to return.  

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Colossians 1: 15 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Low Life

 

"Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  

Matthew 11: 28 - 30 NKJV 

I've been reading quite a bit lately of a spike in the rates of suicide and depression in our country.  We have also seen a increase in domestic violence rates as well, but that's for another topic.  What hits close to home for me is the rise in the rate of depression.  There was a time in my life where I experienced more than a few dark days.  My own depression sprung out of what I perceived as nobody liking me.  Again, this is what I thought was happening.  In reality, it took the encouraging words of a few friends and co workers to show me that I had been dead wrong in my thinking.  Now, along with a rise in the rates of suicide and depression comes the thoughts, fears and stories behind those behaviors.  I believe in my heart that the longer that our society remains socially distanced and locked down, that the suicide and depression rates will continue to rise.  Why?  Because too many Americans are beginning to feel as if there is no hope left to be had.  By the grace of Jesus I have remained employed through this period, but I cannot imagine what my state of mind would be if I were not.  I recently saw a friend post a Facebook post which read..."So giving up is the only option left."  This grieved me because my friend is normally a happy individual.  Sadly, however, he has been out of work for as long as there have been police state Kate Brown lockdowns.  So, what are we to do when our accuser comes knocking upon our door speaking doubt and fear into our hearts?  Well, we could give in to his suggestions, or we could come to the realization that it ultimately is not we who are carrying that load...but Jesus.  Many Christians, when facing hard times, have traditionally turned to the gospel of Matthew and taken courage from the passage where Jesus invites us to place our burdens upon Him {Matthew 11:28}.  I get it.  After all, Jesus is our Savior and can handle any issue we bring to Him can He not?  Well, in this passage Jesus was inviting those who were listening to see that it is He who shoulders our burdens, something the apostle Paul introduces to us as well.  It is Paul who introduces us to the reality of Christ in us {Galatians 2:20}.  So, if Jesus indeed is living in us, isn't it He who is carrying the burden?

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1: 7 NKJV 

If we were to get down to the roots of the issues of depression and suicide we would come up with one common factor...fear.  I was afraid that I had nobody who cared...so I became depressed.  The man who has been out of work now cannot provide for his family...he fears that he no longer has hope.  One thing which we can be assured of, is that fear is never of God.  In fact, fears are almost always attacks brought forth by our deceiver Satan.  We all have fears which keep us from enjoying life.  I personally  have a overwhelming fear of heights, which keeps me from more than a few activities.  Yet, on a hiking trip to the 1, 300 foot Angels Rest trail in the Columbia River gorge a few years back a good friend reminded me that fear...was not of Jesus who was in me.  Therefore, I could live strong without fear!  I did...but I was extra careful climbing back down.  It is no secret that fear can do many things to our bodies and minds.  The enemy will tell us that your job is gone...while God reminds you that He will provide {Philippians 4:19}.  The accuser will tell us that our life is worthless...but God assures us that we are precious to Him {Ephesians 2:4-9}.  He has created us in His own image {Genesis 1:27}.  He breathed into us the breath of life {Genesis 2:7}.  God has been a intimate part of us from the very beginning.  We might have our own doubts about whether others are concerned for us...but we should NEVER doubt that God forever has His love upon us.  In the love of Christ, there is no room for fear {1 John 4:18}.  

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 

Ephesians 2: 4 - 9 NKJV 

~Scott~ 

Knowing Jesus

 

So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.  To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Hebrews 9: 28 NKJV 

Have you ever heard the phrase getting to know Jesus and wondered just how in the hell it was possible?  Well, you're not alone.  I feel that the phrase getting to know Jesus has become simply a catch phrase for the modern institutional church.  It's good marketing.  What Christian would not want to get to know Jesus better?  Well, the truth is that we don't need to sit through countless boring sermons or Sunday school classes in order to obtain enough knowledge of Jesus that we can come to know Him better than we already do.  In my last post I tackled the issue of believing in a Jesus we cannot see.  How difficult is that?  From a young age I've been told that if I'm a good boy that I will eventually be rewarded with a eternity with Jesus.  Really?  So, then I'll finally get to see Him?  Does anyone else besides me see something wrong with this equation?  Now, I know who Jesus is in theory, the scriptures do a good job of delivering that message.  However, many times the Jesus of the bible seems a bit, shall we say, impersonal.  Indeed, it is written that upon His rising again, that Jesus ascended into heaven to be seated at the Fathers side.  For many people, this is where the story of Jesus ends.  One thing I have noticed over the past few years in my journey to knowing Christ is that the cross was not the end...but the beginning for Jesus.  For it was after His own death that His earthly chains were lifted and the flesh life which held Him for so many years was now behind Him.  This is where our quest for understanding who Jesus truly is begins.  

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Galatians 2: 20 NKJV 

I understand those who have the belief that Jesus is died and is sitting in heaven removed from all that is on the earth.  After all, that is the message many a church has put out over the centuries.  But let's look into that belief.  So, we can agree that Jesus is indeed not dead, right?  I mean, he rose from the dead three days after His death.  That, of course, is a essential part of Christian theology and teaching.  So, if indeed Jesus is alive, where is He?  Here's a better question, if Jesus is alive, wouldn't He want to be among those He ultimately gave His life for?  The apostle Paul thought so.  It is Paul who introduces us to the truth of a Jesus you more than likely have never been introduced to in any church you've been to.  Paul writes that it is Jesus who now lives through Him {Galatians 2:20}.  This is not only a key verse in our understanding of Christ in us, but also of knowing the man Jesus better than we ever have before.  One way to better know Him is to see Jesus as He is, as flesh and blood.  Heresy?  Hardly.  For if we trust in the truth of the words of Paul, it is Jesus who we identify ourselves with.  Jesus cannot live in us without becoming intimately attached to every part of our being.  All that we think, feel and experience we do AS HIM.  Yes, that's a pretty big serving of truth to contemplate all at once, yet that in no way means that it's not true.  My own understanding of who Jesus was used to end at the cross.  It wasn't until I saw that cross as the beginning of my time with Him that my knowledge of who Jesus is began to change.  That...is knowing Jesus.

~Scott~ 

Seeing Is Believing

 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord."  So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"  Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at my hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing."  Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"  Jesus said to him, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

John 20: 25 - 29 NKJV 

Sometimes I wonder to myself just how many Christians like Thomas there are out there in the world.  People who have had the gospel of Jesus spoken to them their entire lives yet still demand proof before they will accept it.  I get it.  I was once among the doubters as well.  Like most people, I operate on the seeing is believing principal.  If I could see it, I'd believe in it.  Now, imagine if Newton had operated on that principal.  Would he have discovered gravity had he simply heard about it?  What about Thomas Edison?  Would he have discovered electricity simply by hearing of it?  Like our friend Thomas, both Newton and Edison witnessed with their own eyes...and then believed.  Sometimes I think that we humans are unique in that we feel the need to investigate and prove something before we will accept it.  Except, how does that work in Christianity?  How is it that we can ask someone to know and believe in Jesus when we cannot produce the evidence for them to verify?  It is in this respect that I do not envy the job of pastor.  For the biggest sell job of a pastor is to convince a room full of people to believe in what he is telling them.  Don't get me wrong, there is indeed plenty of historical evidence which points to the very fact that Jesus did exist at one time.  Yet, when was the last time anyone ever saw Jesus?  Can we invite Him over to verify He's real?  Well, if I were like Thomas, I'd be screaming for proof to verify that others had seen the Lord.  It is unfortunate that we live in a time where physical evidence of the existence of Jesus in todays world is scarce.  We're told that He suffered and died on the cross, but that three days later He rose again and was seen by multitudes of people.  Enter doubting Thomas.  Despite the other disciples trying to speak truth to him, Thomas wasn't convinced.  Yet once the young disciple saw Jesus with his own eyes, he immediately worshipped his Lord.  Funny how that works.  One of the topics of our discussions lately has been how God desires for all of His children to know Him.  Is it therefore our challenge as followers of Jesus to introduce Him to others in a way they can understand?  

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves.  But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us!  We are perishing!"  But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

Mathew 8: 23 - 27 NKJV 

Who indeed!  Once again, the disciples were caught in one of those doubting Thomas moments.  All around them all that they could see were raging waves, which I'm sure could have capsized them at any moment.  Keep in mind that a good number of these followers of Jesus were fishermen by trade, so it is logical to assume that they were very familiar with rough weather.  Knowing this, that must have been some storm if even these seasoned salts were afraid.  Yet, asleep in the rear of the boat was a very good reason for them to remain calm even in the midst of this storm.  However, trusting in their senses, they quickly woke Jesus in fear.  Now, I find a key verse in the response that Jesus gives to His followers.  A response which can still ring true for us today in the midst of our own storms of life.  "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"  Wow!  With that, Jesus rebukes the waves and, I'm assuming, resumes His nap.  Leaving the disciples to wonder among themselves what the hell had just happened.  Now, I'll admit that my own faith has been shaken by circumstances in my life at times.  Not too many Christians can deny that.  So, how is it that you can speak Jesus to someone who has never experienced Him?  Well, when the young men asked Jesus where it was He was staying what was His response?  "Come and see" {John 1:39}.  How is it that others will see Jesus?  Through the lives of those who follow Him {Matthew 5:16}.  The apostle Paul speaks to the reality of Christ in us in Galatians {Galatians 2:20}.  Knowing this, will not others see Jesus through me?  Jesus is the light who will shine from within. 

Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"  They said to Him, Rabbi (teacher), "where are you staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see."  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day.

John 1: 38 - 39 NKJV 

~Scott~