A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Chris Musgrove of Future Now)
Scripture for the Day – September 30, 2019
Luke 8:24-25: Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was calm. 25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith? And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.”
Why did Jesus ask them, where is your faith? The reason He asked them that was because He didn’t see any faith. Fear had taken over, and faith cannot coexist with fear. Then the disciples said something very strange. They said, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him.” They didn’t really know Jesus or they wouldn’t have been saying, “Who can this be”? I believe this is because they hadn’t spent enough time with Him yet to really get to know and trust Him.
Psalm 91:1-2 and 14 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ 14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.”
The Amplified Bible says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!’ 14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].”
Abiding or dwelling with God means living in that place. You dwell or abide in your home and you know your home. Well, if you abide in Jesus you will know Him and you will be able to speak good of Him confidently.
John 8:31-32 says, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide (dwell) in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’”
Jesus said in John 14:6 that He was the truth. If you want to know truth, get to know Jesus through His Word (the truth). You can’t separate Jesus from His Word (the truth).
If someone were to tell me they saw my sister buying drugs in a bad part of town I would have to say they were mistaken. I know my sister and she doesn’t sell or take drugs. I can confidently say that because I know my sister. We should know Jesus (God) in the same way and should be confident in knowing Him to defend Him with His Word when people judge the character of God wrongly. You can’t be a character witness for someone you don’t know.
Remember: John 8:32 says, “And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”
