Bible League: Living His Word A very bad wind came up on the lake. The waves were coming over the sides and into the boat, and it was almost full of water. Jesus was inside the boat, sleeping with his head on a pillow. The followers went and woke him. They said, "Teacher, don't you care about us? We are going to drown!"— Mark 4:37-38 ERV What is the worst storm you've ever experienced? In 2008, the town in which I was living was struck by an F2 tornado. I remember the night vividly. The lightning and the thunder was constant. The wind was deafening. I had been at a meeting and hurried home as the storm approached. I had to take a few detours to get home because there were trees and power lines down in the roads. After the storm passed, we were without power for days. It was beyond scary. It was terrifying! In Mark 4, Jesus and His disciples were in the middle of the Sea of Galilee heading to the other side. As often happens on the Sea of Galilee, a fierce storm popped up in the middle of the night as they were making their way across the sea. Jesus, exhausted from a day of teaching, had fallen asleep in the boat. The disciples, some of them seasoned fishermen, were terrified. They didn't know what to do! So they went and awakened the Master. He got up and commanded the wind and the waves to be still and the sea grew quiet. What is the worst storm you've ever experienced? I'm not talking about a weather-related storm. I'm talking about a storm of a different kind. Perhaps it was a financial storm when you lost your job and lost everything for which you'd worked so hard. It could have been a relational storm when a friend turned against you, or a loved one walked out on you. It might have been a spiritual storm when God seemed so distant in your crisis of faith, and you were battered by the wind and waves of doubt and fear. Maybe you're still being battered by those same stormy seas, and you're convinced that Jesus is asleep in your boat. Have you ever wondered why Jesus was sleeping in the boat with His head on a pillow? Yes, He was tired, but I believe that there was something else going on in this story. Jesus was at peace. He knew about the storm before the first breezes began to blow. He was completely calm while the seas churned violently. Jesus was calm because Jesus was in control. Friends, you may be going through the worst storm you've ever experienced. Job loss? Marital separation? Death of a loved one? A wayward child or grandchild? These storms, and more, are the tempests of our lives that toss our boats to and fro, up and down, and side to side. Don't forget who is with you during the storm! Jesus is with you, so cry out to Him and tell Him about your storm. He's the only One who can do something about it. He can bring peace to the storm and to you, too. After all, He is the Prince of Peace and when He speaks, wind and waves obey Him. By Shawn Cornett, Bible League International staff, Illinois U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 23, 24 2 Samuel 23 -- David's Last Song NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 24 -- The Census Taken; David Builds an Altar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 22:31-53 Luke 22 -- Preparing the Passover; Jesus Arrested, Disowned by Peter NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.Insight Solomon recalls the remedy for life's unanswered questions. He recommends joy and contentment as encouragement for us along life's pilgrimage. Challenge We must accept each day with its daily measure of work, food, and pleasure. Let us learn to enjoy what God has given us to refresh and strengthen us to continue his work. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God.Divine omniscience affords no comfort to the ungodly mind, but to the child of God it overflows with consolation. God is always thinking upon us, never turns aside his mind from us, has us always before his eyes; and this is precisely as we would have it, for it would be dreadful to exist for a moment beyond the observation of our heavenly Father. His thoughts are always tender, loving, wise, prudent, far-reaching, and they bring to us countless benefits: hence it is a choice delight to remember them. The Lord always did think upon his people: hence their election and the covenant of grace by which their salvation is secured; he always will think upon them: hence their final perseverance by which they shall be brought safely to their final rest. In all our wanderings the watchful glance of the Eternal Watcher is evermore fixed upon us--we never roam beyond the Shepherd's eye. In our sorrows he observes us incessantly, and not a pang escapes him; in our toils he marks all our weariness, and writes in his book all the struggles of his faithful ones. These thoughts of the Lord encompass us in all our paths, and penetrate the innermost region of our being. Not a nerve or tissue, valve or vessel, of our bodily organization is uncared for; all the littles of our little world are thought upon by the great God. Dear reader, is this precious to you? then hold to it. Never be led astray by those philosophic fools who preach up an impersonal God, and talk of self-existent, self-governing matter. The Lord liveth and thinketh upon us, this is a truth far too precious for us to be lightly robbed of it. The notice of a nobleman is valued so highly that he who has it counts his fortune made; but what is it to be thought of by the King of kings! If the Lord thinketh upon us, all is well, and we may rejoice evermore. Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.Exodus 34:6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, • gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 1 Peter 2:19-21,23 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. • For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. • For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, • and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; Ephesians 4:26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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