August 28, 2024 Devo

August 28th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
Jesus Walks on Water (Matt 14:22-33)
About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” – Matthew 14:25-26 (NLT)
“When You Don’t Recognize God”

This past Sunday, some friends at church were showing us some pictures from forty years ago when I was a Youth Pastor here at the church. I helped them to remember a couple of the names that they couldn’t come up with. They showed one of the pictures to Wanda, and she said, “Who is that?” We all laughed, and I said, “That would be ME!” Yes, my own wife did not recognize me even though she was married to me when that picture was taken.
Now, to her defense, I have changed a little in the last forty years. In the picture, I had a full beard and long hair. The full beard is now cropped close, and the hair, well, the hair abandoned me. I had on large-frame glasses, which were popular then, and I was probably a few pounds lighter. Okay, more than a few. How can my wife, who has known me since 9th grade, not recognize me when she saw me? Because sometimes people don’t look like what we think they should look like. And it’s the same with God.
Jesus comes through the night walking on water. It’s dark, and the boat is bouncing around in the waves. Seeing Jesus out on the water was the LAST PLACE they expected to see Him. Walking on water was the LAST THING they expected to see Him do. It was Jesus, in all His power and glory. It was just not the place or the way they expected.
Remember this. Sometimes we think God’s not there, especially in those times when we think we need Him the most. But I think the problem is that we may not recognize Him. Sometimes He comes dressed as a challenging circumstance that is designed to strengthen our courage and faith. We call it a “struggle.” But it’s God. Just not as we expected. Sometimes He comes as friends and family offering help. Our pride is telling us we shouldn’t accept help. We should just be able to handle it with God’s help, and we fail to recognize that THEY are God’s help. So, take another look at the picture you find yourself in. If you look closely, you may discover that God is actually a lot closer and a lot more involved than you knew. Sometimes we just don’t recognize Him. That’s God’s Word for you today.