Hello, special ones.
Yesterday morning while commencing my old man jog with Tazzy, my rough plan for the day took a sudden change of course. Among other things, I needed to pick up sawmill blades in Wood Village. But, as I explained to Becki, Mount Hood Timberline ski area was right on the way! The conditions up there at that point were superlative. Disappointingly, however, by the time I got there, conditions had greatly deteriorated—with overcast and a kind of freezing rain that plastered goggles with ice. I only did two runs before hanging it up. Who/what do you suppose I should blame for that deterioration? (Smile)
I need to deliver my truck right away to a mechanic who will be replacing a fuel shutoff solenoid. I sure need that old truck to remain reliable.
Blessings on your list for the day. Ray.
Here is a Gentile believer whom Jesus applauds as having “great faith” while a few verses later He reprimands His own disciples for having “little faith” (8:26). What accounts for the difference?
I wonder if it has to do with what we touched on yesterday—their individual recognition and belief in WHO Jesus is, and how broad is the scope of His authority. The words of the centurion confirmed his belief in Jesus’ authority to wield absolute power within the spiritual realm—so as to command healing for his servant by remote control. “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it” (8:8-9).
The disciples, on the other hand, did not appear to recognize the vastness of Jesus’ authority, at least not during that wild storm on the sea. And when Jesus finally demonstrated His authority by instantly calming the storm, they were freaked out. “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"(8:27).
I’m judging that the question raised by the disciples in this setting is perhaps the most important and urgent question for every member of the human race to answer—“What kind of man is this?” That answer actually determines one’s eternal destiny. And please ponder the observation they make. If the conclusion/deduction they draw from this experience is a valid one—“Even the winds and the waves obey him!”—what do you suppose are the chances that mankind has much of anything at all to do with influencing “global warming” or “climate change?”
So—what kind of man is this? How about SOVEREIGN GOD INCARNATE?! I draw one very firm conclusion—I cannot imagine a more important friend to have in my boat