The Gift of Water

“Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.” (Matthew 14:25)

Water is one of the most powerful elements known to man. It is the one of the first things mentioned in the Bible. It sustains us. In fact, every single prepper or survivalist would say water is one of the few things we truly cannot do without. Our bodies must have water to survive. Yet for the longest time, man was afraid of water. Its uncontrollable nature frightened people and many were extremely wary of it. God regularly used this element to show His extreme control and power. It was one of the first things He utilized during creation. He accomplished the seemingly impossible when He walked across it in human form. And, He used the uncontrollable to represent the cleansing of our human selves during baptism.

We are much the same way. There is an element of fear in our lives when it comes to things we cannot control. Just as Peter was called to step out of the boat in faith and explore the uncharted territory of walking on water, we have accepted the call to explore the uncharted waters of survival prepping. But, we have to remember it is only by staying focused on Jesus that will be successful in our endeavors. The moment Peter stopped keeping Jesus as the center of his attention, he lost control over walking on the water and started to sink. Of course, Jesus reached out to Peter, supporting him until they were safely in the boat just as He will do for us.

God has given us a beautiful reminder in His gift of water. It is the primary element that nourishes and sustains our bodies and it is the one element we have no control over. As we prepare for the uncontrollable world of the future we only have to remember that if we keep God at the center of our preparations, we will feel His overwhelming support and peace.

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Today in Christian History

May 24th

1738 – English founder of Methodism John Wesley underwent his famous religious conversion at Aldersgate Chapel in London. Later, in his journal, Wesley reflected under this date: ‘I felt my heart strangely warmed….’

1752 – According to a note inscribed in his Bible, Robert Robinson, 16, was “born again” (“renatus”) under the preaching of English revivalist George Whitefield. Robinson later authored the hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”

1892 – Birth of Earl B. Marlatt, American religious educator and hymnologist. In 1926 Marlatt penned the hymn, “`Are Ye Able?’ Said the Master,” to be sung in a consecration service at Boston University’s School of Religion.

1930 – Pioneer linguist Frank C. Laubach, while serving as a Congregational missionary, wrote in a letter: ‘As one makes new discoveries about his friends by being with them, so one discovers the “individuality” of God if one entertains him continuously.’

1950 – In Boston, during its annual gathering, the Northern Baptist Convention formally changed its name to the American Baptist Convention. Twenty-two years later, in 1972, the denomination changed its name once more, and became the American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.

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Source for Today in Christian History: www.studylight.org