Daily Devotional
You Are Guarded by Jesus’ Power
“…Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing”
John 6:16-18
February 17, 2020
Ponder This
In my journeys to Israel, one of the most delightful times for me is to sit at twilight on the shores of Galilee. The tranquility is like a dream. You’re almost intoxicated by beauty as the sun sets over the Sea of Galilee. The Golan Heights across the sea from Tiberius turn a rosy color. You can hear birds nesting in the trees. I believe the Sea of Galilee is one of the most beautiful bodies of water on earth. The old rabbis used to say that God created all the other seas, then He created Galilee just for Himself.
It had been a wonderful day after the feeding of the 5,000. The disciples were full of success and self-confidence when they climbed into their boat that evening. Then it happened. The wind began to rise. Clouds darkened the moon. An angry wind beat the sea with its fists, and the water rose up, striking the disciples in the face. Galilee, quiet as a millpond, now had become dangerous. Seasoned sailors, filled with fear, then saw Jesus, walking on the water, saying, “Don’t be afraid.” In another gospel it records Him saying, “Be of good cheer. It is I.”
Practice This
Are you in a storm? You say, “No, Pastor, I’m not.” Well, I’m glad for you. Enjoy this season. We’re fools if we don’t enjoy the good times of life. But just wait a while. Sooner or later, you’re going to find yourself in a storm. It may be that God has engineered your storm; if not, He has certainly allowed it, because our God is over everything. The first thing you can say when difficulty comes is that God’s providence is over it all. You can say, “I am governed by His providence.”
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
