Westside Church of Christ

The storms are inevitable. Sometimes, they come as illness or death of a loved one. Others are through personal failures. Their appearance can be totally unexpected and unpredictable, but they are sure to come. Life throws us a curve, and we respond. The question isn’t “if” but “when”. How we process the experience is crucial.

The apostles were not without those times. Jesus had miraculously fed a multitude with inadequate resources and sent the crowd away. Then He directed the apostles to get into a boat and go to the other side of the lake while He retreated for a time of prayer Matthew 14:22- 33). They obeyed (That’s what disciples do!) and off they went, away from Him and into a ferocious storm. Not even His chosen few escaped the turbulence.

Those choppy, wind-swept waters educated them in a way that nothing else could. A book couldn’t do it. Not even the lessons from the Lord’s own mouth could drive home the points quite like that adventure did. They learned about the inadequacies of their faith and the power of the Lord. He walked on water. So did Peter. That storm was quite the classroom. Ours can be, too, if we have the right preparation and perspective.

Don’t get caught off guard, but get ready to be battered and bruised. The winds and pounding surf of troubles can be fearfully strong. They will eventually test everyone. We cannot sidestep it, and our relationship with the Lord won’t prevent it. It’s coming, and the wisest thing we can do is realize it and prepare.

The word of the Lord can’t simply be history for us. Of course, it is that and much more. It is not merely theoretical: it is practical. Our task is to learn and apply His principles. God warned Noah and told him how to get ready for the devastating flood that was on the way (Genesis 6). He had all of the right information, but he would have drowned like everyone else if he had never picked up a hammer and started building. He did and survived a storm like no other.

Challenges to our faith can be learning moments for us as they were for the apostles in that storm-tossed boat. The hard times expose the quality of our faith and reveal the weaknesses in our wisdom. It’s a bit embarrassing and humbling, which is the perfect environment for teaching disciples. We need Jesus. The apostles recognized His greatness when He walked on water to save them in their distress, and He stilled the storm. They worshiped Him.

We come on the first day of the week to remember Him. He saved us in our distress, too. Maybe we need a lesson in humility and dependence if we do not recognize that. A storm has a way of reminding us.

Call to Praise: 1 Peter 5:1-5

His word on it: 1 Corinthians 11:1

Sermon: “The Examples Among us”