Wednesday, May 18, 2011
A Well-Timed Rescue
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
—Matthew 14:24–25
It has been said that when you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God. Many times when hardship comes, we have our own plans for how to handle it. We have plan A, B, C, D, and E. And after we have exhausted all of those, we find ourselves in that place where we say, “If God doesn’t come through for me, it is over with. This is horrible.” But actually, it is not horrible, because it is an opportunity for God to show His glory.
When the disciples found themselves battling a storm on the Sea of Galilee, the Bible tells us that “about three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water” (Matthew 14:25). This means the disciples had been at sea for nine hours when Jesus arrived on the scene. Why did He wait so long? We don’t know. But maybe He was waiting for them to completely exhaust their resources.
The lifeguard knows there is danger in saving a drowning person, because a drowning person will panic. More than one lifeguard has died after being pulled under by the very person they were trying to save.
A lot of times, God waits until we come to the end of ourselves. Jesus came to the disciples at the last moment, but when the time was just right. And not only that, He came walking on the water. Perhaps it was to show the disciples that the very things they feared—the wind and the waves—were only a means for Him to reach them.
The disciples may have lost sight of Jesus, but He never lost sight of them. And when you are in the midst of your storm, He never will lose sight of you.
Copyright © 2011 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
and
Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.
SPECIAL OFFER
Theology without apology!
There is nothing in this book that is not essential for a Christian to build a strong foundation on the Word of God. It is a book that you will come back to over and over again, as you brush up on that which really matters in life. It really does contain the essentials.
I want to send you your personal copy of Essentials in appreciation for your gift to Harvest this month. You can take the biblical doctrine you find in it’s pages and run with it and live it. I would describe Essentials as theology without apology.
You can have your own copy of Essentials in appreciation for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month.