Passing By

Note: Thank you for all the prayer cover and loving support and words of encouragement you have provided in the last 10 days or so with Hurricane Harvey. The battle is hard, but we are victorious! We have much to be thankful for - and we are!! God is good! And the Internet has finally been restored - Hallelujah! It's good to be back together.
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Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.
Mark 6:47-51a NIV

I know I've read this passage many times, but tonight, it stuck out to me that Jesus was going to pass by them. The Message bible reads, "He intended to go right by them." And it reminded me of the old hymn, Pass Me Not, written by Fanny Crosby. Part of the lyrics - Pass me not, O gentle Savior. Hear my humble cry. While on others Thou are calling, do not pass me by...

Why would He do that? He saw them fighting the wind that was against them. He saw them straining at the oars. These were seasoned fishermen who knew their way around in a boat, plus they were His followers and they were struggling. Why wouldn't He just run to them and save them? But notice, it wasn't until they cried out in fear that He acknowledged them and turned to them.

How often do we do that? We're going about life, doing what we know to do. And there are those times when life gets really hard, and we just keep trying to do life in our own strength... All the while wondering why God doesn't do something. Can't He see what we're up against? Doesn't He see us struggling and straining? Is He really going to ignore our plight?

Have we called on Him or are we still trying to do everything in our own strength? Have we acknowledged and confessed our need for Him or are we too busy indicting Him? Are we passing HIM by?

Prayer:

Father,
           Forgive us for thinking that we can do anything apart from You. Thank You for loving us enough to correct us and to turn our hearts. Thank You for Your protection and provision. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePPOaX6HTPI