Youth Bible Study
Verse of The Day
Matthew 8.23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him and a great storm arose on the sea, swamping the boat with waves, but Jesus was sleeping (ESV)
Getting Soaked with Christ
Wow, that’s a strong message there. A typical consequence of obedience. Matthew’s surprise is evident in his narration as he describes a furious storm arising after they followed Jesus. Present-day Christians might wonder, “Shouldn’t we see a rainbow arch in the sky in applause to the Son of God? shouldn’t we see a flock of doves hovering over us flying in happy formation? Shouldn’t we see fishes swimming in synchrony to glorify the miracle worker and the one who made all things? I believed that following Christ would make everything easy. Where is the new creation the Bible speaks of, where I become a new creation upon accepting and following Christ? (2 Corinthians 5:17). Don’t Christ’s followers enjoy a calendar full of Caribbean cruises? Matthew recounted “we obeyed and followed Jesus onto a boat, only to face a furious storm where waves swept over us, and the face of death stared boldly at us. And in all these Jesus was sleeping. What a paradoxical situation. As the disciples feared the furious storm and held their breath, Jesus calmly slept, unaffected by the raging tempest. Despite knowing the storm’s arrival, Jesus remained undisturbed, enjoying the good winds and a peaceful sleep. Daniel Obeyed and followed God and what happened? He entered the lion’s den. The three Hebrew boys’ obedience to God led to them being thrown into a furnace. Joseph obeyed and followed God, resulting in his imprisonment. This serves as a reminder that aligning with Christ means fully immersing oneself in Him
God Works In Mysterious Ways.
Jesus said if you love me – take up your cross and follow me. He went ahead to say that in this world you will have tribulations. It’s a reminder that Christ’s followers lose their jobs. Christ’s followers still lose their homes. They still have cancer and all manner of sickness. Christ’s followers bury their loved ones in agonizing grief. Christ’s followers fail their exams. It’s not the lack of problems that defines us as Christians; rather, it’s who we find in the midst of the storm. Daniel encountered the wonder-working God in the lion’s den when angels were sent to shut the mouths of the lions. The Hebrew boys encountered the angel of God in the fire, danced with him, and walked out unharmed. Could you believe that not even a strand of their hair was burnt? One might think that God will deliver us from the problem or prevent it from happening. The omniscient God reveals different dimensions of Himself to us, often manifesting them in challenging situations. Who would have thought of surviving a night with hungry lions unharmed or seeing a real angel in a fire without being burnt? For a prisoner to become a prime minister overnight
And For You My Dear Youth
Understanding the narrative reveals that Jesus eventually calmed the storm, bringing peace amid chaos. During turbulent times, it’s easy to feel abandoned by God, similar to how the disciples questioned His care during the storm. However, the lesson is to approach challenges with faith and trust in God’s power, rather than focusing solely on the problem’s magnitude. Instead of pleading with God in desperation, we should confront challenges with confidence, recognizing the greatness and reliability of our God
Prayer
As we reflect on these today may God bless and guide us through Christ our lord. Amen
Overcoming Addiction
Overcoming Addiction: I write to you, young men and women, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one (ESV 1 John 2.14)
Remain Blesses Always