Daily Devotional For Friday, October 3, 2025
Good morning Southside! We are continuing our look at Matthew 8:23-27:
“Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with His disciples. (24) Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. (25) The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ (26) Jesus responded, ‘Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!’ Then He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. (27) The disciples were amazed. ‘Who is this man?’ they asked. ‘Even the winds and waves obey Him!’” (NLT).
To do this story right, we are going to break it up into 2 parts. Part 1 is today, Friday. Have you ever wanted to just get away from it all to be free of all demands and just rest? Have you ever wanted to be just with the people closest to you with no demands, no schedule and no expectations? Jesus got His disciples into a boat to sail in a southwesterly direction on the Sea of Galilee. This was probably a fishing boat big enough to carry Jesus and His disciples. They eventually end up in the country of the Gadarenes (Matthew 8:28). If you remember, a few days ago we looked at the topography of the Sea of Galilee.
This sea is 680 feet below sea level in the Jordan Valley Rift. To the left were high mountains and if you happened to be out on the sea when a storm came across those mountains to the left, it was too late. The valley served like a magnet, pulling the storm into the Jordan Valley Rift before you could get off the sea and to safety. First century Jewish historian, Josephus, writes that at any given time there could be up to 300 fishing boats on the Sea of Galilee.
What they thought would be a peaceful cruise across the sea turned into a fight for survival. What was to be a wonderful cruise has turned into chaos. What was supposed to be a nice day, has turned into waves pummeling the boat as death. What was to be peaceful has turned into panic. With 10 miles to go in a couple of hours in normal cicumstances, has now turned into exhausted hours of uncertainty., The hills and mountains to the left serve like a funnel and these storms could easily topple and sink any boat.
Matthew actually shows us some humor while teaching us some biblical truth. First, Jesus humanly, was exhausted and had fallen asleep. He is so exhausted, even with waves crashing over repeatedly and their boat cresting one wave one minute and pummeling down into a deep dark valley the next, Jesus remained asleep. Why? Second, He was God in human flesh and He had nothing to worry or be concerned about in this situation.
Like us they exhibited some faith – they actually believe Jesus can do something about the storm. They said, “Lord, save us!” But like us, their faith evaporated while waiting on Jesus with, “We’re about to drown!” Matthew, who must have been there, as an eyewitness, describes vividly the difference before and after. Jesus got up and rebuked the storm and Matthew says that it was a “mega” storm that hit and after Jesus rebuked the storm there was a “mega” calm. What a contrast, don’t you think?
Assignment: Someone once said, “If you have Jesus in your boat in a storm, you have nothing to fear.” Sounds great doesn’t it? So, when storms come to you, whether they be emotional, psychological, spiritual or physical, do you remain calm in faith or does fear grip you like a boa constrictor? Do you try to reduce the effects of the storm yourself, or do you give the storm to the Lord? Like the disciples, when you think Jesus is sleeping during your storms?
Scripture To Meditate On: 2 Chronicles 14:11, “Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, ‘O Lord, no one but You can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You alone. It is in Your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, You are our God” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, please forgive me when I act like lost people when storms come my way. Help me to see You in my storms and that they can have a purpose and lesson for me to learn. Lord, help me to come to You first with any and all storms. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly