+ nline with Jesus -

A Bible Reading and Meditation guide

 (In case you missed them, the last two  readings follow this one )

Prayer;

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things out of your word. Amen.

Today's Reading:

Jesus amazes his disciples by calming a storm.

Mark 4;35-41

 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Meditation for the Day

Galilee has a reputation to be a capricious body of water; lying between two hill ranges, winds funnel down through it going south, and raise fierce swells in this fresh-water lake. Even these seasoned fishermen with Him in the boat were fearing for their safety.

But Jesus, woken from a deep sleep, presumably tired with so much service, speaks to the waves like a man tells a dog to 'be muzzled' , 'get down!' and the storm ceases. The disciples are overwhelmed by what they witness, and realise that this is no ordinary religious teacher.

Even if it seems as though Jesus is off the scene, as though He doesn't care, faith chooses not to reckon without Him being in the boat of our lives. The disciples took His quietness as an absence of care and concern for them. But He is still there in the roughest moments of our lives.

 

Prayer;

  • Thank God for His intervention in the past in your life at moments of crisis. If there are storms in your life just now, thank God that Jesus is with you and that He cares what happens.

Lord Jesus Christ, on the days when You seem quiet in the midst of wind and waves in life, help me by Your grace to rely on Your promise that You never leave me nor forsake me. Increase my reliance upon You through the difficult times I encounter. In Your name. Amen.

If you have any questions about today's reading, please send me them on colin@cce.uk.net

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Yesterday's reading

The story is understood better through time spent with Jesus.

Mark 4;33-34

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Meditation for the Day

Jesus knew the power of story to communicate the word of the Kingdom. So often we can get caught up with intellectual doctrines, when Jesus gave just enough for His hearers to understand; this was His aim, not to puzzle them, but for them to know how to follow Him.

Later, when there was time , sitting over a meal, walking along the road, lying in bed chatting together before sleep, Jesus would go deeper into the knottier aspects of theological issues with his disciples (the Greek word for explain is epiluo, meaning to loosen up about, to untie). After all, the disciples were also going to have to continue telling the story when He had returned to the Father. But this deeper teaching was as a result of having more time with Him in a relaxed way.

Jesus knows our situation; He can tell us just enough of the story we need to know, so we can understand and walk with Him. But the more time we spend just with Him, the more He can explain to us, if our heart is to know the knottier aspects of His truth.

Prayer;

  • Allow God to give you a picture of where His story of your life is at the moment. What picture would He paint of it just now. Take a moment to think on that.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the power of Your story at work in me. Help me to understand what I need to hear to walk faithfully with You. But also spike my thirst for you , so that I take time to go deeper into Your word in more extensive ways. In Your name. Amen.

 

 

Reading from Two Days Ago;

Kingdom seed is productive, and will lead to a harvest .

Mark 4;26-29

26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces corn -- first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

Meditation for the Day

The coming of the Kingdom is infectious ; it brings fruit wherever it finds the good soil, even though we know it's not because of what we have done or said. And God is also looking for the full yield of the Kingdom in our lives - not just small green shoots, but ripe ears of corn, which will lead to a harvest, both in our own lives and the lives of others.

Prayer;

  • What kingdom seed is growing in you at the moment - what are you aware of which is taking root in you for God? Give thanks for God's fruitfulness, wherever you see it and whatever stage it is at.

Lord Jesus Christ, let Your kingdom come. As the seed planted in me grows of itself through Your grace, let me come to a place of being like ripened grain at the time of harvest for You. In Your name. Amen.

 

f you have any questions about any of the readings, please send me them on colin@cce.uk.net

Bible passages © New International Version ; Prayers and Meditations © Colin Symes 2007

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