+
nline with Jesus -
A Bible
(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
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
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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