Don’t Let Jesus Pass You By…

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter six, verses 48-50 (to read full passage please click HERE), I just noticed something I had not seen before though I have heard/read this passage previously:

As Jesus calmly walked on the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee while the disciples were “straining at the oars,” Jesus was about to “pass by them” until they cried out to Him in fear, terror, and helplessness.

This caused me to wonder: how many times have I been in overwhelming situations where I DIDN’T cry out to Jesus, where I simply put my head down and tried to fix/handle the predicament on my own?

Perhaps I did this because:

1. I thought my problem wasn’t spiritual/important enough for God’s intervention;
2. I thought I could actually handle it on my own now that I am a “veteran” Christian;
3. I had caused the mess I was in and thus I believed that prevented me from receiving/deserving the LORD’s help;
4. I simply forgot to reach out to the Savior–I lapsed back into my B.C. (Before Christ) way of living.

Regardless of the reason, let’s not forget that our friendship with God through faith in Jesus is a two-way street–we have a role to play!

Let’s cry out to the King not only in our distress but also in our victories, not only in our fear but also in our peace. Let’s look for Jesus walking toward us in our daily life and drop our oars (our attempts to handle our situations) so we can wrap our arms around Him.

Psalm 51:16-17 The Message

Going through the motions doesn’t please You,
    a flawless performance is nothing to You.
I learned God-worship
    when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

Please click HERE for the song, “Fall Apart” by Josh Wilson.