Same Storm Different Boat – Part 2

Scripture: Mathew 8: 23 – 27 23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. 25 And His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Despite what experiences say, the biggest and strongest storm in our lives is sin. The hymn, Love Lifted Me, written in 1912 by James Rowe likens the idea of sinking in water to sinking in sin. The lyrics literally speak about Jesus rescuing us from sin and was inspired by the Bible passage of Mathew 8: 23-27. That Bible story tells us of a day that Jesus and his disciples were in a boat when a storm hit. Mathew 8: 23-27; shows the fear of the situation, the need of a savior, and the grace and mercy of the Lord toward the Believer’s unbelief. In the scripture, we see the waters of the sea overtaking the boat, filling it which could cause it to sink. Without help, the boat will sink killing its occupants. Consequently, sin does the same thing. Sin enters our life and consumes us and will ultimately kill us if we are not rescued. The fatal situations that sin stirs up causes fear; and fear causes us to act irrationally. Without a savior we are doomed. Ironically, some have been freed from sin but still get entangled in its chains. These persons have a savior but sometimes forget or doubt His power to break chains, to change lives, to calm storms. Nonetheless, in a moment of clarity, the Believer calls out to Christ to be rescued lest he perish. Consider this verse: while we were sinking deep in sin love lifted us.
(1)I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Refrain
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help, Love lifted me

(2) All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,
In his blessed presence live, ever His praises sing.
Love so mighty and so true merits my soul’s best songs;
Faithful loving service, too, to Him belong. (Refrain)

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves;
He will lift you by His Love out of the angry waves;
He’s the master of the sea, billows His will obey;
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today. (Refrain)

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me for not appreciating Your love, Your grace and Your mercy by practicing sin.  Lord, thank You for lifting me with love out of the waves when I was drowning in sin. Lord, thank You for allowing me back when I knowingly went back into that sinful water. Thank You, Lord, for loving me so much that You gave Your life so I could live. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

(by Patricia Towns)