In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this?…" — Luke 8:25
Here’s the fifth paradigm shift: You need truth in your gut as well as your head.
My wife doesn’t like the term "gut," so let me paste in the word "heart" if that works better for you.
For many years I had a cerebral faith. I knew about God. I knew the Bible. In fact, I could probably run circles around most people when it came to knowing the Bible. But all that knowledge wasn’t helping me in some critical ways.
I knew I shouldn’t be bitter. I tried very hard not to be bitter. But, deep inside, I was still bitter. I knew I shouldn’t lust. I tried not to lust. But, in my heart, lust was a continual trap. I knew I shouldn’t fear or worry. But inside, I couldn’t stop shaking, even though I hid it from everyone else.
I know I keep coming back to this story, but it’s a good one, so I’ll do it again. The disciples were learning quite a bit about this Messiah, this Jesus. They had theology. They had scripture. They had knowledge. Then the Lord took them across the Sea of Galilee.
In the storm, when they believed they were about to drown, then the poverty of their "gut-level" knowledge was exposed. They didn’t know who Jesus really was, until He taught them — not in a class, but with a gut-level experience.
So don’t be surprised if God takes you on a roller coaster ride through some gut wrenching experiences. He has a plan. He has a purpose. He’s getting truth in all the right places.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.