Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Creator over Creation

Luke 8:22-25
 
Luke 8:25b – “Who is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”
 
When you buy car insurance or homeowners insurance, somewhere in the fine print, you will find certain events that need special attention. What happens if it suddenly floods and your home is damaged or if an unexpected hailstorm leaves your car riddled with dents? These events are usually referred to as “acts of God”. They describe situations that are outside any possible human intervention. Even the secular world attributes them to a higher power.
            The disciples of course were not concerned with possible damages to their boat. They were in fear of losing their lives. The storm was understood as an act of God. It was more than obvious to them that the storm was beyond their control. The natural reaction of the disciples was to focus on the power of the storm. The irony was that fixating on the perilous storm did little to improve the situation. In desperation they turned to Jesus, not necessarily to request help but to inform him of impending doom. But even still, this reaction was the most fruitful one. When Jesus calmed the storm, he displays his power over creation. The force of the created world is always under the authority of the Creator. When the storm subsided, the disciples are amazed.
However, while the storm was raging and before the storm was quelled, God was still in control. How unfortunate it is when we only notices God’s power after the storm is calmed. Perhaps this is where the disciples lacked faith. In the midst of our immediate storms – the pandemic and racial discrimination, can we have the faith to know that God is in control now? As Christians, we have hope that God will bring peace to both these storms, but our future hope is based on the present faith that the Creator is over the creation even now. Seeing God in the midst of the storm prevents us from panicking. But seeing God in the midst of the storm also discourages cheap spirituality that only trusts God after the storm is calmed. Imagine what can we do today when we believe that God is in control over creation now! This is not an appeal to act foolishly but courageously even before the storm subsides.
PRAYER
Father, help me to act like You are in control now, so that when You calm the storm, the world will know the faith we have in You. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
If for only after the storm we wait, then can we really call it faith?

Rev. Larry Varghese, Vicar of MTC of Silicon Valley and Sacramento Congregation, CA
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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