@FirstChurchofJerusalem
Today's Early Church Wisdom
“None of us offers resistance when he is seized, or avenges himself for your unjust violence, although our people are numerous and plentiful…it is not lawful for us to hate, and so we please God more when we render no requital for injury…we repay your hatred with kindness.”
~ Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (died 258AD)
This week's Psalm is Psalm 31 'My Rock, My Shield, My Song'

Decide to Walk by Faith, not Sight

Jesus knows all the storms we will face in life, and if we are walking with Him and following His directions, His word to us will be identical to the response He made to His disciples that day. Let’s read on in the story to remind ourselves of what that response was:

Matthew 4:39-41

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

By sleeping in the storm, Jesus wasn’t simply expressing His own confidence in His Father’s plan. He was modelling a vital principle of faith to the disciples, who would never have seen someone sleep in a life-threatening situation before! This was the principle of walking by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). The disciples saw the storm but Jesus saw the protection and the preservation of His Father. It is good to ask ourselves, “What is my primary focus? The problem, or the solution ordained by God?