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 Numbers 14:2 And all the children of Israel murmured.There are murmurers amongst Christians now, as there were in the camp of Israel of old. There are those who, when the rod falls, cry out against the afflictive dispensation. They ask, "Why am I thus afflicted? What have I done to be chastened in this manner?" A word with thee, O murmurer! Why shouldst thou murmur against the dispensations of thy heavenly Father? Can he treat thee more hardly than thou deservest? Consider what a rebel thou wast once, but he has pardoned thee! Surely, if he in his wisdom sees fit now to chasten thee, thou shouldst not complain. After all, art thou smitten as hardly as thy sins deserve? Consider the corruption which is in thy breast, and then wilt thou wonder that there needs so much of the rod to fetch it out? Weigh thyself, and discern how much dross is mingled with thy gold; and dost thou think the fire too hot to purge away so much dross as thou hast? Does not that proud rebellious spirit of thine prove that thy heart is not thoroughly sanctified? Are not those murmuring words contrary to the holy submissive nature of God's children? Is not the correction needed? But if thou wilt murmur against the chastening, take heed, for it will go hard with murmurers. God always chastises his children twice, if they do not bear the first stroke patiently. But know one thing--"He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." All his corrections are sent in love, to purify thee, and to draw thee nearer to himself. Surely it must help thee to bear the chastening with resignation if thou art able to recognize thy Father's hand. For "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons." "Murmur not as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the destroyer." Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 John 2:5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:Hebrews 13:20,21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, • equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 John 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 1 John 3:6,7 No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. • Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 1 John 4:17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 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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