Friday, May 2, 2014

Don’t Miss Him!
By Elin Henderson

“…Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.”
Mark 6:48b (NKJV)
         
They almost missed Jesus??!! Really!! We ask ourselves, “How?”! It’s not like there are many pedestrians wandering about on the water in the middle of a stormy night!  Of course we will give them the benefit of the doubt, because if you have been following the news lately and watching the story unfold about the missing Malaysian airliner, then you might understand how difficult it can be to see things on the high seas when the waves are rough.   

The disciples were no doubt focused on the storm, the waves, the water, the wind and the last thing that crossed their minds is that Jesus might show up walking on it all!  Then, when they finally did see Him, they completely freaked out. 

Let’s not be too rough on these guys though. We all find ourselves at times out on life’s stormy seas and when Jesus comes into view, we are so focused on the wind and waves that we often miss Him. We are more worried about how to get out of the mess we are in than who is there with us. Of course. He has been there all along, but we can easily miss Him even when He makes Himself very visible, because our human eyes can’t see past the storm. 

Give us eyes of faith, oh Lord, to not let You pass by unseen…to not miss Your presence even in the midst of the storms of our lives. Help us not to be so surprised at finding You walking on the waves but to expect You there. Help us to fix our eyes on You until YOU settle the storm! 

GOING DEEPER:      
1. Have you ever missed Jesus in the storm?
2. How can we sharpen our focus and search so that He won’t pass by unseen? 

FURTHER READING:

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to thirteen-year-old Callie and eleven-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.