January 2021 - LPNI
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January 2021
LPNI Devotion
He Meant to Pass by Them!
Many of us have our favorite and special passages in the bible:
John 3:16 ESV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son …
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord …
John 14:1-4 ESV Let not your hearts be troubled … and, I am sure, many more verses.
However, in a recent men’s bible study I came across an interesting passage that made me ponder its significance especially during this crazy COVID-19 period. It was Mark 6:48 He meant to pass by them (ESV). Why would this passage have significance to me, to us, during this pandemic period? Let us look at what it says and means.
Jesus had sent his disciples ahead of him in their boats to go to the other side of the lake. A storm came up and he saw that they were making headway, but painfully, for the wind was against them. Didn’t we, during this pandemic period, feel that although we were making some headway during 2020, in many cases we were doing so very painfully? Aren’t we still now running into many “winds” during our daily lives – loss of jobs, social isolation, disruption of most of our normal living practices that we took for granted, and even being unable to go in person to church or other inspirational activities, COVID-19 sickness and death among family and friends, and many other strong, powerful and unexpected “winds”?
Early in the morning Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water. Even though they knew him very well, they actually thought he was a ghost and were frightened. Don’t we in our current troubles get frightened ourselves, and don’t we think that our loving and comforting God is truly not there? We often feel he is only a ghost, not someone we can depend upon.
He meant to pass them by? Wait … I thought God is always there. Why would he mean to pass them by? How stupid were the disciples! He was there, walking right in front of their eyes, but they were so afraid, they didn’t realize it! Fortunately, they did cry out to him, and once they did, he spoke to them, he got into their boat with them, and the winds stopped! He was with them all the time.
‘Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid1’ In this past most unusual year of 2020, did we realize that God truly has been with us, and truly is with us always? Therefore, do not be afraid! Ask him to join you to combat all the “winds” you encounter. He will not pass you by. He will be with you and comfort you throughout all your fearful, irregular, anxiety-producing times.
Don Neff, ChFC, CLU
Financial Planner, Retired
Lakeside, CA 9200 USA
Dneff611@gmail.com