Encounter Devotion 2/28

Introduction

We are entering one of the hardest seasons of our American cultural calendar...

No football until August.

I don’t know how this effects you, but football season is never long enough for me...

The off-season is like a magic eraser. It doesn’t matter if you made a title run or had the worst record in over a decade, everyone in the off-season is more optimistic than they were leaving the previous season.

I am about to give you some not interesting insight into my potentially unhealthy addiction of college football.

As a Florida State football fan, I have to dig and stay informed via media outlets since I am so far away from the action.

I am subscribed to this media outlet called “Warchant.”

Warchant is ran by FSU enthusiasts. This outlet provides daily updates with recruiting, progression charts, schedule releases, donor information, NIL initiatives, and player statuses.

I was reading an article a while back with the title that said “Built by storms.”

The picture on the article was of players walking back into the locker room after a practice with that phrase printed on their shirts in the FSU font.

The article was about the strength and conditioning coach, Josh Storms.

Apparently, the FSU coaching staff were seeing improvements in the players speed, agility, weight, and performance as a rate they had never seen before.

When a player was interviewed about this extensive, disciplined process of strict diets and workouts, his response to the question, “what do you attribute this growth to?” he responded with the statement “We are built by storms.”

Little did he know that he had just coined a phrase that went viral.

Sure, the player was referring to the name of his coveted strength and conditioning coach, but what was really behind the result was the strict and difficult process that included pain, frustration, fear, exhaustion, and fatigue...

I couldn’t help but think about the tie to the Biblical principle that you and I can agree with whole heartedly...

Lets read...

Luke 8:22–25 ESV

22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Jesus, desiring a break from the crowds he was just speaking to, directs his disciples to the seas… and then the unimaginable happens.

The first question that comes to mind when conveying this passage is...

What causes storms?

I am not referring to the scientific makeup of this. I am referring to why storms happen- the kind of storms that insight fear, destruction, and death?

This is a natural question...

People after katrina were asking Why us?

Puerto Ricans after maria were asking this question.

We all are trying to make sense of tsunamis and earthquakes.

This question is especially difficult when considering what we know about the weather and the earth and its relationship to Jesus...

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

God does influence weather...

He brought a drought in Dueteronomy 11

He answered Elijahs prayer to withhold rain according to James 5:17

In Numbers 16, He used an earthquake as his judgement for the sins of his people.

In short, He is sovereign.

He allows the earth to reflect the sad reality of our current state- the consequence of our sin: death.

Romans 8:19–21 ESV

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Sin effected everything. It separated us from God. It brought death into reality. It causes creation to be in bondage and to groan and await redemption, just like ourselves.

When we think about storms and natural disasters, we can all agree it brings us to a particular posture though...

Such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity.

In short, all storms, trials, and sufferings are meaningful.

The sight of a storm will direct our sight to the savior.

This story of Jesus calming the storm is in all three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

In this story, we see Jesus’ humanity AND divinity. He is fully God and fully man- that is being expressed here.

As for his humanity

He needed rest and he needed a break from crowds

Jesus seems to be an introvert with extravert tendencies if we were to define him in modern terms…!

His deity is seen in his ability to make the storms stop by the breath of a single word.

Mark 4:39 ESV

39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Peace.

I want you to remember this-

4 of the 12 disciples were professional fishermen on the sea of Galilee...

These guys were VERY familiar with the seas, navigating obstacles, and reading weather.

The sea of gGalilee is known for its horrendous storms too...

Apparently this storm was something new, different, and bit more frightening than they had experienced.

In fact, I am sure this was a storm that they would have avoided at all costs...

Don’t we live sometimes just to avoid the storms in our life...

They’re taking on water, the waves and rockin, and their lives seem to be at stake.

They wake Jesus up out of desperation, claiming they were going to die, and with the word “peace” he calms the storm.

We can also relate to their lack of faith here...

These are men who walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, saw miracles performed by Jesus, and still lacked in faith.

Jesus rebukes them of this lack of faith!

Look at their response...

Luke 8:25 ESV

25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Where were their eyes… on the savior.

Can you imagine the impact this experience had on them?

I am sure they left thinking… “Next time, I will...”

We’ve all had those experiences, haven’t we?

Here are some closing takeaways from this story...

1. God is in control.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

2. Faith in Christ is never misplaced.

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

3. We are built by storms.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Time of Prayer

*Get into groups

Whats a current storm in your life? A hardship or tough scenario we can pray for you?

Pray for the Lord to equip you during these trials and storms.

Ask the Lord to give you faith to trust in His sovereignty during these storms.

Thank the Lord for the way He has worked in you and conformed you into his image through these trials.