Monday, July 23, 2007
The Day’s Curriculum
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
—Matthew 14:22
Although He knew that a storm was coming, Jesus said to His disciples, “Go to the other side” (see Matthew 14:22–24). Jesus sent them out on the Sea of Galilee because He knew there was a lesson for them to learn. He knew they would make it safely to the other side, so He allowed His disciples to go through the storm. You might say the storm was a part of the day’s curriculum for the disciples.
Life is like that too. We don’t always know when a storm is coming. We don’t know when a tragedy will strike. We don’t know when a crisis is going to hit. We don’t know when a hardship may come up in our lives. But God does, and He knows when we are ready to face these things.
Now here is the question: How will we face life’s storms? It has been said that into every life some rain must fall. To put it biblically, the rain falls on the just and the unjust (see Mark 6:45). Hard times happen to everyone, but as Christians, we have this promise: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Whatever we are going through, in His wonderful providence, God will turn it around for our good.
Courageous people are a lot like tea bags. We don’t know their strength until they are in hot water. It takes courage to face your trials. It takes courage to say, “I’ve made a commitment to follow Jesus. I’m not going to give up. I’m going over to the other side.”
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.
Copyright © 2007 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions,
