Tag: Sea of Galilee

Living in the Image of God

Human Effort Plus Miracle to Accomplish Goal

Living in the Image of God M05S07

Peter’s escape from Herod’s prison conveys understanding that God provides miracles to combine with human effort to accomplish his goals. He freed Peter from prison but left him to complete his escape from King Herod by human effort. Also, through his interactions with disciples during two storms on Sea of Galilee, Christ conveys understanding of human relationship with God regarding faith, human effort, and miracles. In the first storm, the disciples panicked and shifted focus from work to seeking Jesus. He released a miracle to end the storm, then scolded the disciples for lack of faith. In the second storm, the disciples focused on work but were distracted by the glory of Jesus walking on water. He encouraged them to keep working and released a miracle to end the storm. The examples convey understanding that God sees your human effort, encourages you to keep working, and will intervene with miracle when and how he chooses. Therefore, focus on doing what you can humanly do in every endeavor.

Human Effort Plus Miracle to Accomplish Goal 18:53

In this bible study, we discuss examples from the bible to understand that God provides miracles to combine with human effort to accomplish his goals.

First, we discuss Peter’s escape from Herod’s prison. An angel freed Peter from prison, but left him at a short distance from the prison, where Herod’s people could easily recapture him if he stayed there. Therefore, Peter still needed human effort to complete his escape from Herod. That is, a combination of miracle plus human effort occurred to accomplish the goal of “Peter’s escape from Herod.”

Second, we discuss Christ interactions with disciples during two storms on Lake Galilee. In the first storm, the disciples panicked as they feared that Jesus was not aware of their struggle with the storm. They shifted focus from human effort to seeking Jesus to intervene. He released a miracle to end the storm and scolded the disciples for lack of faith. In the second storm, the disciples focused on human effort but were distracted when they saw Jesus walking on water. He encouraged them to keep working. Then he entered the boat and released a miracle to end the storm.

The accounts help us understand that God has given us capabilities to accomplish every goal that he has established for us, calls every person to apply their capabilities in every situation, and will determine when and how to intervene with miracles as needed. Therefore, focus on doing what you can humanly do. God sees your effort and will choose when and how to provide a miracle.

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Individual Responsibility, Living in the Image of God

Individual Responsibility Regarding Faith and Human Effort

Living in the Image of God M04S09

We discuss faith and human effort based on Christ interactions with his disciples during two storms on Sea of Galilee. In the first event, the disciples panicked in the storm and shifted focus from work to pray for miracle. He released a miracle to end their ordeal and scolded them for lack of faith. In the second event, the disciples focused on work but got distracted by the glory of his presence. He encouraged them to keep working and released a miracle to end their ordeal. The interactions convey a message that God sees and encourages human effort of those that work on his task. If your task is motivated by seeking to fulfill God’s purpose and your methods and approach are consistent with Living in the Image of God: then, your task belongs to God. Focus on doing what you can humanly do. He sees your struggles and difficulties and will guide you to victory when and how he chooses. He has never lost a battle and will not ever lose one, including yours.

M04S09 Individual Responsibility Regarding Faith and Human Effort 15:36

In this bible study, we discuss human relationship with God regarding faith, prayer, and human effort; based on Christ interactions with his disciples during two storms on the Sea of Galilee. In each event, Jesus sent the disciples to sail to a destination on the other side of the lake from their location: “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side’” [Mark 4:35]. Similarly, in the second event: “Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd” [Mark 6:45]. Therefore, the account of each event begins by establishing clearly that the task of sailing to the other side of the lake was assigned by God to the disciples. He was with them physically during the first storm. In contrast, during the second storm, he was not with them physically at the beginning but joined them later.

Christ interactions with the disciples during the storms reveal God’s view of human behavior during a hardship associated with seeking to fulfill his purpose. The study enables an understanding of how faith, prayer, and human effort work together to help a person navigate through difficulties when working on a task of God. Both storms ended with a miracle. However, in the first storm, the disciples had panicked and shifted focus from work to pray for miracle. Jesus released a miracle to end their ordeal but scolded them for lack of faith. In the second storm, in contrast, the disciples focused on work but got distracted by the glory of his presence. He encouraged them to keep working and released a miracle to end their ordeal.

The interactions convey a message that God sees and encourages human effort in his tasks and will guide you to victory. He sees your struggles and difficulties and will intervene with miracle as he chooses. Therefore, if your battle belongs to God, focus on doing what you can humanly do. He will guide you to victory in his way and at his time.

We discuss Christ interactions with the disciples during the two storms to understand God’s promise for those that encounter difficulties while seeking to fulfill his purpose. Further, we discuss criteria for evaluating your task and any associated battles to determine if they belong to God.

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