Principle number five, verse 29: We Succeed When We Move Toward Jesus.
Text: Matthew 14:22-31
I have seen a lot of people go through storms and I have had an abundance of them myself. One common factor is that in most cases people believe that they are doing what is right when the storms comes. Peter moved toward Jesus in the midst of contrary winds and waves and things seemed fine.
Observe carefully, there are two things here, while in the presence of the storm, that do not keep Peter from moving toward Jesus. It’s all about what direction we move in when the storm comes. Look closely, there are eleven (11) others who did nothing, and that is what most of us do. Some of us pull away, while some others will move toward Jesus. What do you do when the storms come? Run and hide, blame and shout ! What is your response to your storm?
2011 seems like a good time to begin to discipline ourselves to draw nigh to God. Relationships and fellowship are lifelines in any storm. We are not designed to go it alone. No man or woman is island, and all that church-speak about "I have Jesus and that is enough" is inadequate. We shortchange ourselves and others. We need others to talk with, cry with and share our pain with. Peter was on the water, but Jesus was with him. We need others that have Jesus in them to be with us.
Principle number six, verse 30: Lapses of Focus (faith) are Recipes for Spiritual Failure.
Peter is torn by the forces around him, now his focus and his faith are distracted. he is paying attention to the wind and the waves rather than the great "I AM". This lesson highlights the importance of focused faith. Lapses are too expensive. Lapses happen when we take our focus off of Jesus. It happens when we get preoccupied with the wind and waves, and it is a set up for disaster. Some of the people, problems and events of our lives are just our wind are waves, designed to get our focus-faith off of Jesus.
Peter provides us with a great example of what to do when we have our lapses. Peter cried out. Wait, he didn’t just cry; no, the text said he cried out to Jesus. Our problem is that we cry. We cry in the problem, and we cry about the problem, but we don’t cry out of the problem to Jesus. "Lord, save me," is the right response to lapses of faith and sinking situations. Can you think of some things caused you to lose your focus?
Principle number seven, verse 31: Storms are Measuring Devices that Reveal our Faith Level.
The final verse of our text is quite revealing, Jesus, in the nick of time reaches out and saves Peter the same way HE does so many times with us. It is about the closeness of Jesus. Yes, we will contend with wind and water forces, but Jesus is always available and accessible for those of us whom call on him. What a glorious fact, that no matter how strong the forces push against me, Jesus is available and accessible. Additionally HE educates us as HE eradicates us from our predicament. Jesus tells Peter that the core of the problem is an faith problem. Jesus tells Peter that this storm has revealed his faith level. It is not how much we shout, or how loud we sing, or how eloquent we preach or pray that speaks about our faith level, but rather what we do when the storm comes. We are encouraged to review our responses each time we come through a storm and strive to do better with our focus-faith.
There is a song that says "the storm is passing over, and that there is a blessing in the storm." We must remember that no matter how dark the night, and no matter how rough the way may seem, we need to be encouraged to keep on keeping-on. When the storms of life are raging and we find ourselves struggling and straining with the winds and waves of life, will we be willing to get out of our boats? The boat of tradition. The boat of low expectations. Whatever your boat is, I want to encourage you get out of the boat. Not only do I want to encourage you to get out of the boat, but also want you to remember that whatever happens move toward Jesus. When you have problems in your home, and problems on your job, go to Jesus. We must keep our focus on Jesus and not allow ourselves to lapse and collapse. We must remember that storms that the reveal our faith level.
Amen...
Showing posts with label storm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label storm. Show all posts
Friday, May 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Lessons From A Storm (part 2)
Our first principle is that storms will come even when we are obedient to the commands of Jesus.
Text: Matthew 14:22-31
The second principle is in verse 25: Our Blessings are Found at the Darkest Part of our Storms.
While the scenery of the text is rough and tough, it is comforting to know that there are some positive things happening even in the worst part of the storm. Our text informs us that it was the 4th watch of the night. The Romans divided the night into four watches. The fourth watch was between 3:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M, which is believed to be the darkest part of the night.
This text reveals to us that it is during the darkest hour of our storm that Jesus draws nigh. We should find it encouraging that Jesus in the hour of desperation and frustration is drawing near. This verse also reveals to us one of the purposes of storms. I think that storms are allowed by God to show us what is within us.
Look at the text, Jesus is moving toward the disciples but they suffer from a case of mis-identification. Fears, runs wild in the disciples. They mistake Jesus for a Ghost, their fears and phobias surface like the rising of the tide.
This gets us to the third principle in verse 27: Storms Reveal the True Source of Our Strength (Courage).
When things were at the worst point for the disciples, when they were overwhelmed by the wind and the waves, Jesus shows up. The disciples had been rowing for a long time, and yet they were unable to get trough the storm. Storms reveal our own inability and the ability of God. We try to live large and in charge, but as great as our press clipping may be, when storms come they reveal all of our inadequacies. Yet Paul declares that when we are weak, we are strong. When Jesus shows up in our storm, we find that we gain strength. We gain strength to do the possible. When Jesus shows up He can help us make something useful out of our mistakes. When Jesus shows up he invigorates, restores and empowers us to reach the unreachable, to cross the uncrossable. Storms let us know that without Him, we can do nothing and without Him we are doomed to fail. Yet, when Jesus shows up, we gain the strength to join in with Paul and say in Christ I can do all things.
The storms of life are liken unto a grain sifters, it matters not what you start with it but rather it is all about what is left when the shaking stops. Many of us are going through a lot of stormy patches, and some of the people we thought would be left when the shaking ended, were gone. Some of the things we were counting on as stabilizing elements of our lives have disappeared. I want to share with you that what matters most is what is left when the shaking stops. We have to learn to thank God for what is left and stop complaining about what is lost.
Question: What do you do when the storms of life are raging? Pray, keep busy, isolation, evaluation, hesitation, rationalization, or just blame everyone else for your current circumstance?
Storms are designed to hinder our progress, impede our development, distract our focus, and halt our spiritual development. Think about it for a moment, when storms come don’t they keep us from going where we were trying to go, in fact a severe storms will sometimes cause us to forget what we were doing before the storm came.
But, I don't want you to misunderstand what I mean by the word "storm." A storm is any situation that hinders, halts, distracts, and attempts to destroy your peace, joy and the providential and plan God has for your life. Sometimes our storms are places of employment, sometimes they are people in our lives; our finances, friends and even family members can be storms.
Let's press on...
Principle number four, from verse 28: We Must Be Willing To Get Out of The Boat.
Boats is being used a s a metaphor for our old patterns or life. Those predictable behaviors and tragic flaws that we have a tendency to repeat over and over again. We keep rowing, but we are not making any progress in our little, old boats. This boat represents the status-quo, the same-old same-old. Too often we are trapped by the status-quo. We get trapped in the expectations and fears of others who are more than happy to share with us what they would and would not do.
It is time to get out of that tired old boat and experience something new. If you don’t like what is happening, if you're tired of the way things are going, get out of the boat. If you don’t like the way people treat you, change boats or if you don’t like the way things are going in your relationship get out of the boat.
But wait, get out does not mean leave, it also means try something different. Change the formula and the end result will also change. 2011 is an great time to get out of the old boats of failure and frustration. Can you think of some boats that are sinking (not working real well for you) that you need to get out of.
I also think that this lesson demonstrates how we shortchange God by staying in our crummy little going-nowhere boats. The point is it better on the water with Jesus that in the boat with others who are not going anywhere or doing anything.
[conclusion Friday...]
Text: Matthew 14:22-31
The second principle is in verse 25: Our Blessings are Found at the Darkest Part of our Storms.
While the scenery of the text is rough and tough, it is comforting to know that there are some positive things happening even in the worst part of the storm. Our text informs us that it was the 4th watch of the night. The Romans divided the night into four watches. The fourth watch was between 3:00 A.M. and 6:00 A.M, which is believed to be the darkest part of the night.
This text reveals to us that it is during the darkest hour of our storm that Jesus draws nigh. We should find it encouraging that Jesus in the hour of desperation and frustration is drawing near. This verse also reveals to us one of the purposes of storms. I think that storms are allowed by God to show us what is within us.
Look at the text, Jesus is moving toward the disciples but they suffer from a case of mis-identification. Fears, runs wild in the disciples. They mistake Jesus for a Ghost, their fears and phobias surface like the rising of the tide.
This gets us to the third principle in verse 27: Storms Reveal the True Source of Our Strength (Courage).
When things were at the worst point for the disciples, when they were overwhelmed by the wind and the waves, Jesus shows up. The disciples had been rowing for a long time, and yet they were unable to get trough the storm. Storms reveal our own inability and the ability of God. We try to live large and in charge, but as great as our press clipping may be, when storms come they reveal all of our inadequacies. Yet Paul declares that when we are weak, we are strong. When Jesus shows up in our storm, we find that we gain strength. We gain strength to do the possible. When Jesus shows up He can help us make something useful out of our mistakes. When Jesus shows up he invigorates, restores and empowers us to reach the unreachable, to cross the uncrossable. Storms let us know that without Him, we can do nothing and without Him we are doomed to fail. Yet, when Jesus shows up, we gain the strength to join in with Paul and say in Christ I can do all things.
The storms of life are liken unto a grain sifters, it matters not what you start with it but rather it is all about what is left when the shaking stops. Many of us are going through a lot of stormy patches, and some of the people we thought would be left when the shaking ended, were gone. Some of the things we were counting on as stabilizing elements of our lives have disappeared. I want to share with you that what matters most is what is left when the shaking stops. We have to learn to thank God for what is left and stop complaining about what is lost.
Question: What do you do when the storms of life are raging? Pray, keep busy, isolation, evaluation, hesitation, rationalization, or just blame everyone else for your current circumstance?
Storms are designed to hinder our progress, impede our development, distract our focus, and halt our spiritual development. Think about it for a moment, when storms come don’t they keep us from going where we were trying to go, in fact a severe storms will sometimes cause us to forget what we were doing before the storm came.
But, I don't want you to misunderstand what I mean by the word "storm." A storm is any situation that hinders, halts, distracts, and attempts to destroy your peace, joy and the providential and plan God has for your life. Sometimes our storms are places of employment, sometimes they are people in our lives; our finances, friends and even family members can be storms.
Let's press on...
Principle number four, from verse 28: We Must Be Willing To Get Out of The Boat.
Boats is being used a s a metaphor for our old patterns or life. Those predictable behaviors and tragic flaws that we have a tendency to repeat over and over again. We keep rowing, but we are not making any progress in our little, old boats. This boat represents the status-quo, the same-old same-old. Too often we are trapped by the status-quo. We get trapped in the expectations and fears of others who are more than happy to share with us what they would and would not do.
It is time to get out of that tired old boat and experience something new. If you don’t like what is happening, if you're tired of the way things are going, get out of the boat. If you don’t like the way people treat you, change boats or if you don’t like the way things are going in your relationship get out of the boat.
But wait, get out does not mean leave, it also means try something different. Change the formula and the end result will also change. 2011 is an great time to get out of the old boats of failure and frustration. Can you think of some boats that are sinking (not working real well for you) that you need to get out of.
I also think that this lesson demonstrates how we shortchange God by staying in our crummy little going-nowhere boats. The point is it better on the water with Jesus that in the boat with others who are not going anywhere or doing anything.
[conclusion Friday...]
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Lessons From A Storm (part 1)
"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It’s a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." "Lord, if it’s you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:22-31
Have you ever wondered why contrary winds seem to continually blow in our lives, I have. Why are there problems on the job and problems at home? Why do we seem to have problems in every aspect of our lives, all at once. I would like to suggest that perhaps the storms are not really about our jobs or homes or family or anyone else; maybe… these storms are all about us…me and you. We have all heard and said that we shouldn't think everything is about us....but sometimes it is.
Let us consider what God might be saying to us in our current situations. Yes we work really hard to look good on the outside, but on inside we are about to lose our natural minds.
We have gators on our feet’s, furs on our backs, pearls around our necks and diamonds on our fingers but yet we are at a loss to understand why the lions, bears and tigers (oh my) are on our trails. We swim with sharks, we dance like Kevin Costner with wolves, we sleep with the enemy and we are constantly subjected to the indecent proposals of the enemy and the prince of this world. Steaks in fridge, but no solutions to our storms. We have full pockets, but empty hearts. We are just poor pawns of an unjust world. Yes, the contrary winds and waves of the world leave us at a loss.
Yet, the scripture offers us several (actually seven) practical but powerful principles embedded within this passage that I believe can help with our own stormy situations.
Our text is recorded in each of the synoptic gospels.(Sorry, "churchspeak." It is in all four of the Gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All of these Gospels tell the same or similar stories, primarily about Jesus, but from different perspectives, or different points of views, different eyes...hence, syn-optic.) This is of great benefit to us, because it gives us a panoramic view of the events.
The framework of our text is that Jesus has just fed the five thousand. The disciples have just witnessed the marvel of the mighty, and miraculous manifestation and demonstration of the power of God incarnate on display.
There is a disconnection and a departure in our story. Our disconnections always precede our departures. If you want to get somewhere else, there are some things you must let go of that are keeping you where you are.
Jesus dismisses the crowd and commands the disciples to go to the other side. Observe the atmosphere, the weather is normal or should I say ordinary. The background of this textual episode is just an ordinary day.
The thing about storms in our lives is that they tend to happen when we have disconnected, made our departures and are on way. Additionally storms often show up during what believe to be ordinary days.
Let's look at the scripture. We have Jesus commanding devoted and dedicated followers to depart from their current location to another destination on what appears to be an ordinary day. Our text informs us that the principle parties, the disciples, are far away from land, in a boat. The other synoptic writers tell us that the boat was about half way across and then the weather changed. Such is the nature of storms. They come unannounced, and during a time when we are too far out to turn back and too far out it seems to make it over. It is during these times that God is able to develop and deliver us.
So, on to the principles involved:
1st Principle, found in verse 22, Storms come even when we are obedient to the Commands of Jesus. This text teaches us that a right relationship with Jesus is not a recipe for a storm-proof life. If we look at the text, it was Jesus who told the disciples to get on the boat. And it was Jesus who told the disciples to depart and go to the other side. So the text reminds us that even when we do the best we can, even when we are striving and straining to be the best for God that we can that storms will come. No matter who we are storms are going to come into our lives.
See how the weather changes and the calm waters become waters of restlessness. Sometimes we are sailing through life, working, providing for our families and going about our ordinary and habitual routines and the weather changes. The phone rings and we have lost a love one (weather has changed), sometimes it a lay off from your job (weather has changed), sometimes it is a love one saying I don’t love you any more and I want out of the relationship (weather has changed), sometimes it is your child sharing a moment of making a choice that will change everyone's life (weather has changed). You were striving to do what the word said, but the weather changed.
So, our first lesson is that storms will come even when we are obedient to the commands of Jesus.
What else can we find…
[more tomorrow...]
Have you ever wondered why contrary winds seem to continually blow in our lives, I have. Why are there problems on the job and problems at home? Why do we seem to have problems in every aspect of our lives, all at once. I would like to suggest that perhaps the storms are not really about our jobs or homes or family or anyone else; maybe… these storms are all about us…me and you. We have all heard and said that we shouldn't think everything is about us....but sometimes it is.
Let us consider what God might be saying to us in our current situations. Yes we work really hard to look good on the outside, but on inside we are about to lose our natural minds.
We have gators on our feet’s, furs on our backs, pearls around our necks and diamonds on our fingers but yet we are at a loss to understand why the lions, bears and tigers (oh my) are on our trails. We swim with sharks, we dance like Kevin Costner with wolves, we sleep with the enemy and we are constantly subjected to the indecent proposals of the enemy and the prince of this world. Steaks in fridge, but no solutions to our storms. We have full pockets, but empty hearts. We are just poor pawns of an unjust world. Yes, the contrary winds and waves of the world leave us at a loss.
Yet, the scripture offers us several (actually seven) practical but powerful principles embedded within this passage that I believe can help with our own stormy situations.
Our text is recorded in each of the synoptic gospels.(Sorry, "churchspeak." It is in all four of the Gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All of these Gospels tell the same or similar stories, primarily about Jesus, but from different perspectives, or different points of views, different eyes...hence, syn-optic.) This is of great benefit to us, because it gives us a panoramic view of the events.
The framework of our text is that Jesus has just fed the five thousand. The disciples have just witnessed the marvel of the mighty, and miraculous manifestation and demonstration of the power of God incarnate on display.
There is a disconnection and a departure in our story. Our disconnections always precede our departures. If you want to get somewhere else, there are some things you must let go of that are keeping you where you are.
Jesus dismisses the crowd and commands the disciples to go to the other side. Observe the atmosphere, the weather is normal or should I say ordinary. The background of this textual episode is just an ordinary day.
The thing about storms in our lives is that they tend to happen when we have disconnected, made our departures and are on way. Additionally storms often show up during what believe to be ordinary days.
Let's look at the scripture. We have Jesus commanding devoted and dedicated followers to depart from their current location to another destination on what appears to be an ordinary day. Our text informs us that the principle parties, the disciples, are far away from land, in a boat. The other synoptic writers tell us that the boat was about half way across and then the weather changed. Such is the nature of storms. They come unannounced, and during a time when we are too far out to turn back and too far out it seems to make it over. It is during these times that God is able to develop and deliver us.
So, on to the principles involved:
1st Principle, found in verse 22, Storms come even when we are obedient to the Commands of Jesus. This text teaches us that a right relationship with Jesus is not a recipe for a storm-proof life. If we look at the text, it was Jesus who told the disciples to get on the boat. And it was Jesus who told the disciples to depart and go to the other side. So the text reminds us that even when we do the best we can, even when we are striving and straining to be the best for God that we can that storms will come. No matter who we are storms are going to come into our lives.
See how the weather changes and the calm waters become waters of restlessness. Sometimes we are sailing through life, working, providing for our families and going about our ordinary and habitual routines and the weather changes. The phone rings and we have lost a love one (weather has changed), sometimes it a lay off from your job (weather has changed), sometimes it is a love one saying I don’t love you any more and I want out of the relationship (weather has changed), sometimes it is your child sharing a moment of making a choice that will change everyone's life (weather has changed). You were striving to do what the word said, but the weather changed.
So, our first lesson is that storms will come even when we are obedient to the commands of Jesus.
What else can we find…
[more tomorrow...]
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Leviticus 9:7-10:20; Mark 4:26-5:20; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 10:6-7 (New Living Translation)
Old Testament
1. Moses now passes the "rules" on to Aaron and his sons. Thier family will be the proests for the people, and make the sacrifices on the people's behalf. Aaron and His sons are anointed and purified.
2. Again, the purpose of the sacrifice is to PAY FOR SIN.
3. All is well, Moses and Aaron bless the people, and the glory of the Lord comes in the form of Fire.
- Sounds like Moses has come full circle, isn't that how he met the Lord... a burning bush?
4. The sacrifices are to be made the way the Lord commanded. Not with our own special flair or twist. This leads us to one of those "sticky" situations that people don't like in the Old Testament.
- God destroys people for doing wrong...on the spot. What a concept?
- Aren't we blessed that He doesn't do that now? Remember why?
5. The sins of Nadab and Abihu. Two of Aaron's sons decide to do something special and different for the Lord. In my opinion, in their zeal perhaps to show off, they used the "wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded." God destroys them by fire for their disobedience. Come on guys, God just gave you the rules.
6. Aaron and his other priestly sons are not allowed to grieve ("leaving your hair uncombed or by tearing your clothes"), but the rest of the Israelites are. The bodies are removed from the camp.
- They are separated, because of their sin. Separated by sin...seems to be a theme.
7. Instructions regarding the priests portion of the sacrifice. Well, the other two sons burn their portion instead of eating it. This I think is about 2 things. Obviously they broke the commands given to them. They didn't learn anything from their brothers error or death. But i think it is also about being wasteful. They have wasted something that Gid has set aside especially for them.
- Do we waste God's gifts and blessings? Are we paralyzed by our earthly fears?
8. Aaron pleads for the life of his sons, and Moses (and presumable the Lord) is satisfied.
New Testament
9. Parable of the growing seed (mustard seed).
- This parable follows the longer parable about the farmer, scattered seeds and "good soil."
- To recap: The word Jesus spoke was like seed scattered by a farmer. When the word took root in "good soil" it produces much fruit. Those who hear Jesus are likened to various soils. Some are like stony ground, on which the seed initially sprouts but cannot grow because there is no place for it to take root. Any trouble or persecution brings rejection of the Word. Others allow concern for the affairs of this lfe to choke out the spiritual. But on those who are "good soil" (responsive to the Word) it produces a rich crop.
- This new parable, I think, means that the kingdom of God grows gradually, like a planted seed. The tiniest seeds, like a mustard seed, can grow into a large garden plant.
10. Jesus doesn't explain the parables to the crowd, but gives further instruction to the disciple when they are alone.
11. Jesus calms the storm.
- This section of Mark demonstrates Jesus' personal authority...
- Asleep at sea, Jesus is awakened by His disciples when the fishing boat is struck by the storm. He rebuked the storm...and suddenly the waters were completely calm! We can also see in our reading that the disciples don't know who He is? Makes you wonder, why are they following Him?
- Jesus has power over nature.
12. In the next stiry in this sequence Jesus casts many demons (Legion)out of a man, sending them into a herd of pigs. Once again, the demons recognize Him for who He is, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God." Jesus tells the man to go home and tell his family. Of course, he goes to tell everyone else. The people are amazed, but ask Jesus to go away and leave them alone. Wow. What blessing might they have received if their eyes had been open?
- Jesus has power over evil spiritual beings and forces.
Psalm
13. "Put your hope in the Lord."
14. "Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace."
- It says a wonderful future, not necessarily here. But here is not what we are working on. We are working towards our bright and wonderful future...our eternal life and peace.
Proverbs
15. "We have happy memories of the godly" Don't we?
See you next post...
1. Moses now passes the "rules" on to Aaron and his sons. Thier family will be the proests for the people, and make the sacrifices on the people's behalf. Aaron and His sons are anointed and purified.
2. Again, the purpose of the sacrifice is to PAY FOR SIN.
3. All is well, Moses and Aaron bless the people, and the glory of the Lord comes in the form of Fire.
- Sounds like Moses has come full circle, isn't that how he met the Lord... a burning bush?
4. The sacrifices are to be made the way the Lord commanded. Not with our own special flair or twist. This leads us to one of those "sticky" situations that people don't like in the Old Testament.
- God destroys people for doing wrong...on the spot. What a concept?
- Aren't we blessed that He doesn't do that now? Remember why?
5. The sins of Nadab and Abihu. Two of Aaron's sons decide to do something special and different for the Lord. In my opinion, in their zeal perhaps to show off, they used the "wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded." God destroys them by fire for their disobedience. Come on guys, God just gave you the rules.
6. Aaron and his other priestly sons are not allowed to grieve ("leaving your hair uncombed or by tearing your clothes"), but the rest of the Israelites are. The bodies are removed from the camp.
- They are separated, because of their sin. Separated by sin...seems to be a theme.
7. Instructions regarding the priests portion of the sacrifice. Well, the other two sons burn their portion instead of eating it. This I think is about 2 things. Obviously they broke the commands given to them. They didn't learn anything from their brothers error or death. But i think it is also about being wasteful. They have wasted something that Gid has set aside especially for them.
- Do we waste God's gifts and blessings? Are we paralyzed by our earthly fears?
8. Aaron pleads for the life of his sons, and Moses (and presumable the Lord) is satisfied.
New Testament
9. Parable of the growing seed (mustard seed).
- This parable follows the longer parable about the farmer, scattered seeds and "good soil."
- To recap: The word Jesus spoke was like seed scattered by a farmer. When the word took root in "good soil" it produces much fruit. Those who hear Jesus are likened to various soils. Some are like stony ground, on which the seed initially sprouts but cannot grow because there is no place for it to take root. Any trouble or persecution brings rejection of the Word. Others allow concern for the affairs of this lfe to choke out the spiritual. But on those who are "good soil" (responsive to the Word) it produces a rich crop.
- This new parable, I think, means that the kingdom of God grows gradually, like a planted seed. The tiniest seeds, like a mustard seed, can grow into a large garden plant.
10. Jesus doesn't explain the parables to the crowd, but gives further instruction to the disciple when they are alone.
11. Jesus calms the storm.
- This section of Mark demonstrates Jesus' personal authority...
- Asleep at sea, Jesus is awakened by His disciples when the fishing boat is struck by the storm. He rebuked the storm...and suddenly the waters were completely calm! We can also see in our reading that the disciples don't know who He is? Makes you wonder, why are they following Him?
- Jesus has power over nature.
12. In the next stiry in this sequence Jesus casts many demons (Legion)out of a man, sending them into a herd of pigs. Once again, the demons recognize Him for who He is, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God." Jesus tells the man to go home and tell his family. Of course, he goes to tell everyone else. The people are amazed, but ask Jesus to go away and leave them alone. Wow. What blessing might they have received if their eyes had been open?
- Jesus has power over evil spiritual beings and forces.
Psalm
13. "Put your hope in the Lord."
14. "Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace."
- It says a wonderful future, not necessarily here. But here is not what we are working on. We are working towards our bright and wonderful future...our eternal life and peace.
Proverbs
15. "We have happy memories of the godly" Don't we?
See you next post...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)