He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Matthew 8:26
Experienced seamen plied the boat on the Sea of Galilee the night Jesus slept in the stern. At first they all held up bravely, but eventually they grew tired and weary, saying to themselves, "Won't He ever wake up?" At last, frantic with fear, they said, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" (Matthew 8:25).
The noise of the wind and waves didn't bother Him, but when the disciples turned to Him with a desperate prayer, He awoke and asked, "Why are you so afraid?" Before they could answer, He rebuked the wind and waves, and there was agreat calm. It's a fact, isn't it, that these men, who could have given many excellent reasons for their fears a few moments before, were silent now. Their fears were positively foolish in the presence of Jesus, who acted in calm confidence.
"Why are you so afraid?" Do you understand the lesson that Jesus wants to teach with this question? How often, like the disciples, we struggle against odds in our lives, forgetting to turn to Jesus, who always stands ready to help! Remember, if God so loved us that He gave His own Son to die for us, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things!
PRAYER: Lord, increase our faith so that we may not be afraid in life's storms but confidently look to you. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996 (out of print), Concordia Publishing House. For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Jeremiah 25, 45-46 Hebrews 1
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