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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

I Don’t Really Need a Plan, I Need The ‘I Am’ (God)

In review of Mark 6:49-50 it says, “When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Bottom Line:
Realize who Jesus really is. He is God, so calm down and take courage. Do not be afraid.

What this means to me:
Like the disciples, I think if I saw someone walking on the water toward me, I’d also be taken aback and somewhat terrified. However they recognized and knew him. I need to realize and remember that when the storms of life come are the times that I really learn what Jesus is like. I come to see that he’s not just a mere man. He’s not just a nice teacher. He’s not an ethical leader. He is God, the Creator of the universe. In Mark 6, Jesus noticed the disciples were in distress in the middle of a lake as the wind and waves pounded their boat and kept them from making any progress. And so Jesus walked out to them on the water. Verses 49 and 50 say, “When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (NIV). Jesus will also recognize when I’m in trouble and come to assist me. Unfortunately, the disciples had doubted and thought that Jesus was maybe just a nice prophet who could do some miracles. By walking on water, Jesus revealed to them that he’s far more than a man. He was showing that he’s God. He also gave them a challenge (“Don’t be afraid) and a reassurance. He said, “It is I.” In the Greek this phrase is actually two words: Ego ima. And ego ima simply means “I Am.” “I Am” is the name of God; not “I was” or “I will be” or “I hope to be.” When Jesus says, “I Am,” he is saying that I do not need to be afraid nor do I need to sweat it. He is God. And that should be enough for me. When I go through the storms of life, I need Jesus more than anything. I don’t need a plan; I need a person. I don’t need a system; I need a Savior. I don’t need a new goal; I need God. I need to remember that God is not distant, apathetic, or uninvolved. He is the Lord who is there, the Lord who sees all, the Lord who provides, the Lord who shepherd’s/guides, and He is the Lord who saves. He is “I Am.” And he will get me through whatever storm I could be facing. I think my default action when I run into to trouble is to look for a system, a method, a plan for helping me get out of trouble. I think this comes from the fact that I always want to handle things myself and my way, so I don’t think about always going to God first. I just need to quickly remember, that I should go to him first and talk to him about it and then watch for him to provide at just the right time. God has always come through for me in the storms of life, this is especially evident in my most recent illness and how he comforted me and brought be back to health and a much more healthier lifestyle.

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