"He saw they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves." Mark 6:48b
El Roi, the God who sees. Hagar gave God this name after He provided for her and Ishmael when they were sent away from there home. Personally, this is one of my favorites of the Lord's name. Like the disciples we can find ourselves in serious trouble. We work hard, struggling not be over taken by the trouble. Our efforts seem futile. During times of our serious trouble our great comfort is "He sees." He not only sees, but He comes. He sees, comes, and speaks. - "Don't be afraid."
- "Take courage!"
- "I am here!"
5 Comments:
I agree, El Roi is also one of my favorite names of God and I pray often using that name, remembering that He sees me in all my situations and knows the true motives behind every thought word and deed. This keeps me focused on having pure motives in my walk.
Today Mark 6:51-52 made me stop and ponder:
51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
I didn't understand this statement; they had literally seen thousands of people healed, some even brought back to life. They had witnessed demons cast out, they had seen Jesus calm a storm before yet now they were amazed "for they still didn't understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves." Wow.
Why didn't they understand the miracle of the loaves? Was it because it was too "ordinary" a meal? Though how can feeding 5000 men plus their families with 5 small loaves and two small fish be ordinary! Or was it because in their minds the loaves "trick" was more like a magic trick? The Bible tells us in the second half of this verse that it was because their hearts were hardened.
Matthew Henry puts it this way:
"They were strangely stupid and unthinking, and their heart was hardened, or else they would not have thought it a thing incredible that Christ should command a calm. It is for want of a right understanding of Christ’s former works, that we are transported at the thought of his present works, as if there never were the like before. "
What miraculous signs am I not understanding because my heart is hardened? Where am I lacking understanding of Christ's former works that I am amazed when he shows me again how great, powerful, mighty, loving, honorable and worthy of praise He really is?
Everything revealed (everything) to a child of God is revealed so that we may know; it is for our knowledge, for our learning, for our edification, for the glory of God. I resolve to pay attention today.
Lord, reveal yourself to me today. Don't let me miss a thing! Everything I am to see, know, act on; make it evident to me. Build a sure knowledge of You in me so I am not amazed at Your glorious works, but am instead full of praise. Thank you Lord for Your mercy and for Your loving patience with me even when my heart is hardened.
Amen
Thanks Wendy!
and Thanks Karen. I too was mystified by Mark 6:52; your commentary was tremendously helpful.
My verse for today was Mark 6:51--as soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind stopped. In John, they were "eager to let him in."
I wondered to myself after reading karen's comments, how often i had missed the boat (pun intended) and struggle through a storm more than i needed to, by simply not letting Jesus in, by not turning to Jesus FIRST. How many times have i wrestled with a situation unnecessarily when i simply needed to first soften my heart and then eagerly let him in to handle it.
What a comfort to be reminded that He sees, He shows up and He comforts.
Oh Wendy, thanks for the reminder that "He sees". I need to hang onto that right now. He sees our struggle and confusion right now with what is best for dad, and instead of going crazy trying to plan ahead we need to trust the Lord to reveal His plan in His time. He also sees the University my son should attend next year, so instead of getting anxious about deadline dates and indecision, I should rest in His knowing and wait for the Lord to reveal His decision to us. Thank you for reminding me that He sees.
Today, I wrote about one word. Not only does Christ come to us, but he calls us to come to Him. “‘Come’, he said.” Matthew 14:29
Where Lord?
Out of my “boat”? My place of comfort and security? Out of my fears, doubts, complacency and safety? Out of pride, shame, hypocrisy and judgement?
The Lord has so much for us out on the "open sea" that we'll never experience cowering in our "boat".
A precious old hymn is playing in my head. Before I continue with my ponderings, let the lyrics extend an invitation and minister to your heart. Respond accordingly.
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
As John Ortberg writes in his book entitled, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat", "Getting out of the boat was Peter's gift to Jesus; the experience of walking on the water was Jesus' gift to Peter".
Not everyone responds to Christ's invitation. There were other disciples who remained in the boat. They missed experiencing the power of God. They missed the joy of trusting Jesus like they never had before.
The Lord will enable us. Even if we become hesitant half-way, He is there. Peter at one point was far from shore, out on the water several feet from the boat, but within arms length of Jesus. He is with us.
Where is He asking you to "Come"?
Come back
Come forward
Come into
Come abide
Come rest
Come trust
Come worship
Come listen
Come respond
Come follow
Come surrender
Come delight
Come remove
Come ask
Come testify
Come confess
Come home
Jesus I come,
Joy
Wow! Quadruple blessings...your comments, Wendy & sisters, so rich, and so much to let sink in, and to read over again! Joy-loved the hymn! There is so much I want to write, but I'm going to head to a new verse that also hit me, (there is just so much good stuff today!) Matthew 14:23, "he went...by himself to pray." Oh, ladies, the importance of time alone with God. Rather than stressing about "finding" time to be alone with God, our focus should be "making" time, daily. Our Father wants to spend time with us. As we prayerfully read His Word, he speaks directly to us, and as we pray, we are speaking directly to our Father who listens to us. True fellowship with our unseen Holy Heavenly Father. This is something to thank Him for!
Oh my dear Father in heaven, thank you for drawing me to you each morning. Thank you for meeting with me and allowing me to feel Your presence. Thank you for even showing me a time during my day, to specifically have fellowship with You. You've opened up a time for me to be alone with You. No distractions. Away from the busyness that floods my life. Just me and You. Lord, I love you with all of my heart. I seek Your Will for me today. Open my ears so that I will hear you, and allow me to see those around me through Your eyes. Amen.
Oh ladies, the reading is so rich and so good! The Bible, a page-turner, for sure! :) Well, I'm sure many of us are gearing up for fall break! Doesn't it just seem like it was summer? Our boy's will enjoy a week off of school! Yeah! We will be enjoying family time up North where the leaves are changing and the area is full of pines! God's beautiful creation...I will be off-line for the next week...ah, that part won't be easy, but am looking forward to the "unscheduled-ness" and special "moments," that a break provides!
Enjoy your time in the Word this next week and I look forward to reading your comments when I get back! Much love coming from AZ! Lori
Wow, what great thoughts and comments this morning! I don't know if there is really much to add, you sisters rock :) I do want to say that stepping out of the boat as Peter did can be very scary, especially when you see the wind and the storm around you. I stepped out right into the middle of a hurricane and you know what, Christ did meet me there! He carried me through and my life has never been the same since! Ladies, don't be afraid to step out if He is calling and extends His hand. It is so worth it!
Next week is fall break for us too so we are headed to Knoxville the end of the week to take Will to the zoo. He is so excited he can hardly control himself! I do believe I have a budding scientist on my hands. He gets it honestly from his mom :) Every library day he comes home with another book on bugs, reptiles or some kind of science subject. He can't wait to go see animals he has not gotten to see before here in our Nashville zoo.
Blessings to all you dear sisters,
Brandee, TN
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