Never Pass Up an Opportunity to Display God's Love

 In the eighth chapter of Matthew, the writer documents the calming of a storm and the deliverance of the demoniac of Gadara.  Here are two perfect opportunities to reveal God and His love.

       Jesus told the disciples to get in a boat and cross the sea of Galilee.  During the trip, they encountered a storm.  The storm was not sent by the devil nor induced by God.  Storms on the sea of Galilee just happen.  It's a normal occurrence.  Just like life, storms come when you least expect it.  

     Naturally, the disciples who were used to seeing the destructive power of these storms began to be afraid.  Jesus slept.  Fear caused the disciples to rave about the dreadful prospects of impending doom.  They woke Jesus who found an opportunity to demonstrate God's love and protective heart.

     When they reached the shore, they were confronted with a man that was demon possessed.  The human thing to do was to put distance between yourself and such a person.  Jesus demonstrated that God's love would attract the attention of such a person.  The man was attracted to His love while the demons raged inside of him.  Jesus again found an opportunity to demonstrate God's divine love by demanding the demons to leave the man.  They did.

     Every day, we face normal circumstances brought by a world full of evil.  In the book of Ephesians, Paul teaches us to be rooted and grounded in God's love.  Every evil thing that comes to us is an opportunity to show sinners the overwhelming grace of God and His love.

     May we be so empowered every day of our lives.