Matthew 8:14-27
14 And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
Reflection
Considering his obvious power, the disciples wonder what kind of man Jesus must be (Matt. 8:27). The answer lies in the fact that the winds and the sea obey his voice. Jesus is God himself (1:23)! He is the Ruler of creation, and yet he stoops to the weakness of his people. He heals their suffering (8:17) and rescues them from danger despite the weakness of their faith (v. 26). This is who he is.
Romans 6:15-23
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Reflection
In Romans 6:15–7:6 Paul deals with the second of three misunderstandings of gospel teaching (see also 6:1–14 and 7:7–25). Is it true that sin is now permissible, since we are “under grace” and not under law (6:15)?
No way! You are the slave of the person to whom you surrender (v. 16), so present yourself to God (see also 12:1–2). Those who have truly put their trust in Christ have experienced a heart-transformation that enables them to turn from sin and be obedient “from the heart” (6:17). This is not merely behavior modification, but life transformation. We have been “set free” from sin and its power (v. 18). The gospel makes God our Master, produces his fruit in our lives, and sets us on course for “eternal life” (v. 22). We no longer dread sin’s bitter payback, death. Rejoice in God’s “free gift” (v. 23)!
Psalm 89:11-12
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. 12 The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
The God we serve is the wise and powerful Creator of all things. You can be confident that he is eager and able to do whatever is necessary to accomplish his purposes for your good and his glory.