Tuesday, March 24, 2020

March 24 devotion

You can watch the daily devotion here.




See with eyes of faith
Mark 4:40
3/24/20
Pastor John C. Berg

Mark 4:40  (EHV)

40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still lack faith?” 

This is your daily devotion for March 24th.  In Mark 4 Jesus said to his disciples, “why are you so afraid?  Do you still lack faith?”  Our dog Mo is a 200 pound English mastiff.  His bite force is equal to that of an African lion.  He definitely has a strong “protect the home” instinct.  Mo also is very affectionate toward us and trusts us.  And yet, he’s scared of a plastic bag being shaken over his head or a chair being pushed toward him.  Does he not really trust us?  Or is his instinct not to let anything fall on him just overwhelming powerful?

What exactly happened with the disciples in Mark 4?  They were in a boat with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose and waves splashed into the boat.  They woke Jesus up and said, “teacher, don’t you care that we are about to drown?” Instincts of self-preservation are strong.  That’s not really the issue here though, is it?  The way they ask this question expresses doubt in Jesus’ love for them. 

If you are afraid, that is not necessarily a sinful lack of trust in God.   If you are doubting God’s love for you and for all of humanity that is something we need to deal with.  With the disciples Jesus spoke and the storm stopped.  He cared.  He had the power to do something.  The disciples just didn’t see it as they looked at him asleep in the boat.  The increase in COVID-19 infections and the economic fallout are both sometimes talked about as waves that are going to come crashing down on us.  Look with the eyes of faith and you will see Jesus standing between you and the waves.  He is in control.  He may let them hit you for a while, but even that he will use for your good. 


Let’s pray:   Holy Spirit, strengthen our trust in you, in the Father and in the Son that we may see all things through the eyes of faith.  Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment