Devotions
Rev Gav
Sovereign
Luke 8.25
Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
Reflect
Throughout his gospel, Luke gradually reveals the identity of Jesus — something we miss because we know how the whole story ends! It can be difficult to imagine reading Luke’s gospel for the first time and perhaps, because Jesus’ identity had not yet been fully revealed, it is why, earlier in this story, the disciples call Jesus ‘Sir’ and not ‘Lord’, however, the disciples were left asking, “Who is this person?” and Luke wants us to ask the same question. Who has authority over nature?
If you asked this question to any first century Jewish person, the answer would have always been the same — “God alone.” The implications are huge, and no wonder the disciples spoke out of both fear and amazement. How would you feel if you discovered that the guy you were hanging out with was God?
When she was aged 10, I asked my daughter Gemma what this Bible story was all about. She replied, “Well that’s obvious isn’t it? To trust God in every circumstance.” I think she pretty much nailed it. We can identify with the disciples can’t we? We often find ourselves in the midst of events beyond our control, and we wonder if God is aware or even watching. There are many situations in life in which we doubt God’s goodness, feel abandoned, and call out, “I am going to drown!”
Perhaps spend a moment now, thinking about the storms that rage or have raged around your own life. Have you ever felt like you were drowning? Our response should be like that of the disciples, and cry out to Jesus.
One of my favourite songs is called ‘Cry out to Jesus’ by the band Third Day. Here are the lyrics:
To everyone who’s lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
For the marriage that’s struggling just to hang on
They’ve lost all of their faith in love
And they’ve done all they can to make it right again
Still it’s not enough
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He’ll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, cry out to Jesus
Today, whatever trials and difficulties you face, have faith and trust in Jesus Christ. God is not asleep, indifferent or uncaring. Jesus is the Lord of all creation.
Pray
Holy God
When I have come
to the end of myself,
and things are
beyond my control;
when it feels like
the storms of life
are swamping me and
I have no room to breathe;
help me put my faith in you,
to trust that you
have sovereign control,
and will never let me drown.
This day and for ever.
and then