How well do you know Jesus?
I've been challenged by this thought lately. I know Jesus as my Savior, as my Lord. I have been walking with him for over 30 years now.
But there are times when I feel a longing to know him better. I have noticed that often it is during difficult or trying times that we get a chance to see more of who Jesus is. Trials seem to bring about these opportunities.
Didn't many of us come to him when our lives fell apart while on our own?
The disciples had been following Jesus for some time. They had seen miracles and heard his teaching. Then one day their very lives were in danger.
"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" Matthew 8:23-25 (NIV)
Notice they knew Jesus well enough to call on him for help. I'm not sure what they thought he would do, but it is clear by what happens next they did not expect what he did do.
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (26-27)
Think about that for a moment. Before their very eyes, Jesus took command over the elements. He rebuked the storm, and it obeyed and became calm.
How? Simply because he said so.
This caused the disciples to question even deeper who Jesus could be.
Storms can come into our lives in many different ways. Life is not always easy, but Jesus can use those times to reveal even more of himself to us.
Are you going through a tough time? Try asking, "Lord, what are you trying to teach me about yourself through this?"
There is so much of him left to learn about, so much more to know.
