"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, 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!" 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!" Matthew 8:23-27
Do you know when I feel most humbled to be used by God? It is when I am working on a writing project and the Holy Spirit places something else on my heart to share with standers. Elsewhere on my computer is an unfinished article, but I had to put it aside and share what God has given me.
I was given the illustration of divorce being like falling off of a ship. One moment you were sailing peacefully in the sea of matrimony. Just when you least expected it, the enemy snuck up and shoved you, your spouse and many others overboard. Some people say the evil one toppled 50% of the married couples into the dark waters of divorce.
At first you panicked as you tumbled deeper and deeper into the murky waters of strife and separation, carefully dodging the sharks of divorce. As soon as you stopped going down, you began to swim toward the surface. It was so tempting to reach out to one of the other opposite sex victims who was also frantically attempting to reach the surface. You thought that clinging to that person would somehow rescue you, but most likely eventually it would have caused both of you to sink even deeper.
Finally you see a life ring on the surface far above you. On the circular floating device you can see the name JESUS. You know that buoy can save you, if you can only reach out to it.
Finally you reach the surface. All around you are drowning men and women crying out for help. You can see Jesus on that ship. He skillfully re-throws the life ring and it lands directly in front of you. The floating ring is put around you and you are saved.
You feel safe yet guilty that you are saved and others are sinking. Maybe you could take someone else on your ring so they also will be saved. As Jesus starts to pull you back toward the ship you see him gesturing toward someone else. Off in the distance you see your spouse, struggling to stay afloat. You could save the one you love, but there are so many people closer to you. What if you paddled all the way to your spouse and they rejected you? What if they are still struggling and you both sink?
Despite all the "what ifs" Jesus continues to gesture and to keep the rope tight as you frantically paddle toward your own drowning spouse. You swim right past a couple other people of the opposite sex who need help. You stop and ponder having that ring connect the two of you. Once you look back at Jesus, He is still gesturing toward your own spouse.
You are tempted to rescue that other person, but every time the eyes of Jesus catch your eyes, you know your assignment and paddle frantically toward your beloved. As soon as you reach your spouse, they grab on to the ring and Jesus starts to pull you both toward His ship.
Suddenly your spouse says something about this being all your fault. You recall all the people you swam past to get to your spouse, and now this! Safe inside your life ring, you push your mate's hands off the life saving device. The one you married is again floundering to keep from drowning. You become aware that Jesus seems to have stopped pulling the rope that would have brought you to His boat.
Despite the distance, you can somehow see Jesus' lips move and hear him saying, "I allow false starts." You gesture for Jesus to pull you in, but He seems silent. You see Jesus still gesturing toward your covenant spouse. Feeling ashamed of what you have done, you paddle back to your spouse and your beloved grabs the side of the life ring once again as Jesus starts to pull.
Shortly you and your spouse are on board with Jesus. You embrace and start to walk away together, talking about how grateful you are that you were saved, but Jesus interrupts.
"You can't rest yet because many others are still drowning," Jesus says in a peaceful voice. "Help me to rescue more."
Jesus hands you and your spouse life rings. From the safety of that ship's deck you and your covenant mate start to toss life rings to the struggling. Each of you follow in the steps of Jesus as you toss a ring to a victim and then gesture for them to swim to save their struggling spouse.
Every time a new couple is brought on board, Jesus hands each of them a life ring with the same instructions you and your spouse heard from Jesus.
"You can't rest yet because many others are still drowning. Help me to rescue more."
Soon the number on the deck exceed the number still in the water. Yes, some have suffered painful bites and attacks from the sharks of divorce, but once on board with Jesus, those wounds are healed. You ask Jesus why they have scars.
"They are a reminder not to stand too close to the edge of the boat next time," Jesus lovingly says, "and a reminder to be so careful not to allow the enemy to sneak up on you."
Finally the rescue is complete. People have been rescued and lives saved despite Satan's evil scheme. Everyone is wet, tired and exhausted, but not Jesus. He remains as loving, as calm and as in control as when he tossed you that first life ring.
"Do you realize," your spouse inquires, "That if you had not followed Jesus when He told you to swim toward me, many of these people would not be safe and together right now? Yes, the Lord would have another couple to start all this, but I thank God that you heard Jesus and obeyed."
Jesus smiled as only He can.
- - - - -
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10
My friend, even though the above is an allegory, Satan is at work today, even right now, finding couples he can shove into the sea of divorce. Jesus is also at work, rescuing marriages that have been attacked. Will you look to Him to rescue you and your spouse from the sea of strife that is drowning you today?
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." I Peter 5:10-11
God bless, Bob Steinkamp Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
I loved this devotional when I received it this morning, especially since I have had the scripture of the storm marked in my Bible for some time now.
Loving while being rejected, forgiving while being repeatedly hurt, are often categorized as dumb things to do. Was our Lord Jesus dumb for loving those who persecuted him, for forgiving them even when they showed no remorse? If I claim to want to live a Godly life, how can I do any less than try to live the example Jesus laid for me? It is not easy to walk in love and forgiveness, but then again, taking the cross for my sins was no walk in the park for Him. I do not seek to martyr myself. I simply want to live the life that the Lord has called me to lead. I will walk in faith, not fear. I will chose love and forgiveness over anger and hate. My reward will not be here on earth, nor do I seek it. I will receive mine in heaven, when I go to meet the Father. I simply long to hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant, Welcome home."
Living God's blessings with grace and dignity~ SMW
M40/H36 T16/M14 4K B2/08 S4/08 current
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I Corinthians 13:7
