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Monday, August 29, 2011
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"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:39 NKJV). "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7 NIV).
As
most of you know, due to the intense media coverage of Hurricane Irene,
we had a severe storm come through our area this weekend. We were
to the west of the hurricane's main path up the east coast but still
had a lot of rain and high winds. Some of our friends had power outages
but the damage in our area is minimal and few lives were lost due to
the many warnings we received. Driving after the storm we encountered a
roadway of small broken tree branches and we have a lot of lawn cleanup
today.
A church
we served in Massachusetts (1993-2001) had a large tree fall right over
the entrance to their parking lot. Today all throughout our region many
are dealing with storm damages of varying degree. But early Monday
morning as we prepare this message the sky is bright blue, the winds
are completely stilled, the school buses are loaded with students and
drivers are heading to work. The storm has passed! For our devotional
message today let us consider a famous storm in the Bible.
Matthew,
Mark and Luke all recount the story of Jesus climbing into a boat with His
disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. It's 700 feet below sea
level and its
deepest point descends 150 feet. The sea is 13 miles long and 7
miles wide, surrounded by hills. Jesus had called four of His
disciples into ministry from this very sea.
The winds blowing across the land intensify in close proximity to the sea, often causing violent and abrupt storms. Several of the disciples were seasoned fishermen who had spent their lives on this lake. They'd undoubtedly survived many storms, but in today's Scripture account a severe squall released its windy furor which caused the still waters to erupt thrusting powerful waves of sea water above the boat.
Can you just imagine the scene; the men running about the boat to find watertight containers to bale out the water as it swirled about their feet and was rising. They surely panicked and feared for their lives. All except One; the Son of Man who, of all things, was sleeping soundly on a cushion in the stern!
Nerves completely shattered by now, the disciples awakened Jesus and asked passionately, "Teacher, don't You care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38b). Jesus responded to the disciples with a reprimand for their lack of faith, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" (Matthew 8:26). He then got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, "Peace! Be still!" and the winds and waves obeyed their Creator.
The
disciples, still shaken, after their death defying ordeal, now witnessed the
instant calming of the horrific storm once Jesus commanded the elements to be
still. Consider the roller coaster ride their emotions took
as the sudden storm broke loose, the waters rose, and then the miracle
that followed. Their emotions went from concern to worry, then
fear, then terror, then disbelief, tremendous relief, and finally
amazement. Stunned by what they had seen, they surely shook their
heads in astonishment as they began to ask each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him" (Mark 4:41).
When our hearts become troubled they're much like the storm tossed sea. It causes unrest within our soul and our passions become unruly. Fear and anxiety are inevitable as the deadly water of doubt, unbelief, rebellion and other harmful attitudes rise up within us thereby drowning our faith in God.
Challenges, trials, and tragedies will always exist. But God has promised that His peace is available to all who seek Him – He offers a peace that transcends human understanding or human intervention. This peace will guard our hearts from anxiety, fear, terror, and strife. "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day" (Psalm 91:4,5).
Jesus looks on but eagerly awaits our beckoning call. He comes into our lives upon our invitation as we ask Him to save us. He says, "Peace! Be still!" to the conflict, doubts, fightings, and fears that grip our hearts. We no longer strive to save ourselves, but we ask Jesus to save us. Fear is overcome by faith when we ask Jesus to be our Savior, to guide us over the troubled sea of life.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father,
we thank You for the powerful God that You are. Even the winds
and waves recognize You as Creator and obey Your voice. Your Word is
a lighthouse that directs us safely toward heaven when the furious
waves swirl about us and the water rises up to our necks. Keep us
firmly anchored in Your ways so that we stay above the waters and endure to the very end.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Today's text can be read at Mark 4:35-41
"Till The Storm Passes By" Video Vestal Goodman
"Praise You In The Storm" Video Casting Crowns
"Peacespeaker" Video Instrumental We use this song as background to our podcast today. Here's a vocal version.
"Wonderful Peace" Video Dene Taylor
"He Hideth My Soul" Video Haven of Rest Quartet
"Just As I Am" Video Brian Doerksen
Listen to this
message on
your
audio player."Till The Storm Passes By"
"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:39 NKJV). "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7 NIV).
Matthew,
Mark and Luke all recount the story of Jesus climbing into a boat with His
disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. It's 700 feet below sea
level and its
deepest point descends 150 feet. The sea is 13 miles long and 7
miles wide, surrounded by hills. Jesus had called four of His
disciples into ministry from this very sea. The winds blowing across the land intensify in close proximity to the sea, often causing violent and abrupt storms. Several of the disciples were seasoned fishermen who had spent their lives on this lake. They'd undoubtedly survived many storms, but in today's Scripture account a severe squall released its windy furor which caused the still waters to erupt thrusting powerful waves of sea water above the boat.
Can you just imagine the scene; the men running about the boat to find watertight containers to bale out the water as it swirled about their feet and was rising. They surely panicked and feared for their lives. All except One; the Son of Man who, of all things, was sleeping soundly on a cushion in the stern!
Nerves completely shattered by now, the disciples awakened Jesus and asked passionately, "Teacher, don't You care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38b). Jesus responded to the disciples with a reprimand for their lack of faith, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" (Matthew 8:26). He then got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, "Peace! Be still!" and the winds and waves obeyed their Creator.
The
disciples, still shaken, after their death defying ordeal, now witnessed the
instant calming of the horrific storm once Jesus commanded the elements to be
still. Consider the roller coaster ride their emotions took
as the sudden storm broke loose, the waters rose, and then the miracle
that followed. Their emotions went from concern to worry, then
fear, then terror, then disbelief, tremendous relief, and finally
amazement. Stunned by what they had seen, they surely shook their
heads in astonishment as they began to ask each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him" (Mark 4:41).When our hearts become troubled they're much like the storm tossed sea. It causes unrest within our soul and our passions become unruly. Fear and anxiety are inevitable as the deadly water of doubt, unbelief, rebellion and other harmful attitudes rise up within us thereby drowning our faith in God.
Challenges, trials, and tragedies will always exist. But God has promised that His peace is available to all who seek Him – He offers a peace that transcends human understanding or human intervention. This peace will guard our hearts from anxiety, fear, terror, and strife. "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day" (Psalm 91:4,5).
Jesus looks on but eagerly awaits our beckoning call. He comes into our lives upon our invitation as we ask Him to save us. He says, "Peace! Be still!" to the conflict, doubts, fightings, and fears that grip our hearts. We no longer strive to save ourselves, but we ask Jesus to save us. Fear is overcome by faith when we ask Jesus to be our Savior, to guide us over the troubled sea of life.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Today's text can be read at Mark 4:35-41
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"Till The Storm Passes By" Video Vestal Goodman
"Praise You In The Storm" Video Casting Crowns
"Peacespeaker" Video Instrumental We use this song as background to our podcast today. Here's a vocal version.
"Wonderful Peace" Video Dene Taylor
"He Hideth My Soul" Video Haven of Rest Quartet
"Just As I Am" Video Brian Doerksen
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Scripture
references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version.
© 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD
BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation,
New King James
Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the
King
James Version.
Personal
Mission Statement:
"I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ
I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord.
My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and
to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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