Surviving the Storms

With hurricanes, storms and floods dominating the news the past couple of weeks, we discovered recently that even in the midst of the most fierce and troubling storms we encounter in life, Jesus is still here for us and Jesus can calm the storms in our lives.

Every one of us has encountered storms in life.  Everyone has to go through some rough waters.  Even the Apostle Paul, one of Jesus’ most valuable and faithful servants, suffered through many storms in his life as he continually preached the Gospel.  Yet, one of the most interesting aspects about Paul’s ministry is how he continually encouraged, supported and inspired others with words of comfort and hope, even during the storms and shipwrecks encountered in their lives.

We recall in the book of Acts, Chapter 27, that while Paul was a passenger on the cargo ship that was sailing to Rome, a fierce hurricane-like storm swept down over the ship and tossed it back and forth while destroying the sail and rudder as water continued to accumulate inside the boat.  As the 276 crew members panicked, they realized they had lost all hope in saving themselves from total destruction.  Meanwhile, the Apostle Paul, in the midst of all the turmoil, continued to be positive, inspiring and hopeful to the men.  For Paul continually cried out, “Don’t fear!  You will not die; you will be saved, for the Lord has told me so.”

Here was a man who put all his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, which allowed him to exhibit several Christ-like qualities to the men.  And because of Paul’s infallible faith in the Lord, he became a light of hope in the midst of the storm of despair.

Sometimes, the storms we encounter in our lives are so thick and damaging that we rarely can see the light of God.  We get so caught up in the storm that we forget to look toward the Lord of hope to help relieve us, retrieve us and reprieve us from the storm, but there was Paul, cheering up the crew members, encouraging them and providing them with hope that they would make it through the storm.

How many Pauls do you know today?  How many Pauls do you know who galvanize you, motivate you and energize your spirit?  How many Paul-like figures are there to lift you up and not to bring you down?

Even though Paul was a source of encouragement throughout the storm, many sailors did not listen to him or believe him, so some of them planned to abandon the ship and lowered the emergency boat to escape.  Paul said to those sailors, “You will all die, unless everyone stays onboard.”  So the sailors cut the ropes and let the boat fall off.

Even when God’s people tell us things are going to be alright, we still doubt.  We still do not trust them.  We are still hesitant to believe them, just like these men who were going to abandon ship.  In many cases, it takes just one righteous, holy person to save a ship from wreckage and to save the crew from the storm.  The reason this ship was saved was because of Paul’s faith in the Lord.

Do you know what is keeping evil at bay right now?  It is because of all of God’s saints and all of His disciples.  We are the ones keeping the world and our communities from blowing into total chaos.

Remember, God took Lot out of Sodom before he destroyed it.  God saved Noah and his family before he destroyed the earth with the flood.  God can save you this day, and God has saved and protected First Christian Church for more than 130 years to be that beacon of hope and beacon of light in an ever-increasing darkening world.

We need more Pauls.  We need more folks who are willing to ride the storm and rebuild, rekindle and reenergize many of our ministries and mission opportunities.  We need more Pauls to give, to serve and to inspire others to join the community of hope, hospitality, friendship and fellowship.  We need more Pauls to encourage the despondent, to motivate the lifeless and to rekindle hope in our spirits.  We need more Pauls to do…

Perhaps, God is calling you to be a Paul.  Perhaps you are the one who can help calm the storms of discontent and help reshape, rebuild and reenergize the hope of the resurrection in your life, as well as in the life of the church.

Believe in the hope and be that hope for others.

Pastor Mark

 

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Meet the Disciples

First Christian Church is a Disciples of Christ congregation. Learn more about the Disciples on our Kansas region site and our main denomination page.

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First Christian Church

319 W. Laurel St.
Independence, KS 67301

620-273-2525