DEVOTIONAL

Prayer: Father God, thank you for this new day and thank you for your living word. As I spend this day with you, be my vision and speak to me so that I may live and serve you for your glory. Father God, I come before your throne of grace and mercy, I confess and acknowledge I have sinned against you in thought and deed, today I ask to forgive me and, in your grace, purify my heart, cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. And in your great love lead me and help me to walk in the paths of righteousness, so that I may bring glory to you the one triune God. I now receive your forgiveness and mercy in the name of my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 121:1-2

"1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”                                                                  

Worship Song Sung or Said: Faithful One, So Unchanging (Brian Doerksen)

https://youtu.be/HROSwkRwpPI

Faithful one, so unchanging

Ageless one,

You're my rock of peace,
Lord of all I depend on You,

I call out to You Again and again,

I call out to You Again and again

You are my rock in times of trouble,

You lift me up when I fall down,

All through the storm,

Your love is, The anchor,

My hope is in You alone.

Gods Word for Today:  Mark 4:35-41

"35That 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!"                                                                                             

Devotional/Study: (Part 1)

Today I want to share a wonderful story we all know so well, which we find in Mark 4:35-41. This is a story, where the disciples faced a physical storm that challenged their faith and understanding of Jesus. 

This is not just a story about the weather and a boat trip. It’s a story about life. It’s a story about faith and fear. This is a story about a storm that revealed something about who Jesus is and also something about the disciple’s faith. 

Jesus has just finished a long day of teaching about the Kingdom of God. So, after this heavy day, Jesus says to his disciples in v35 "Let us go over to the other side.” On the other side was Gentile territory. In that territory, they were going to experience new challenges and see, Jesus power over demons, disease and death (Mark 5:1-43). 

So, they started across the sea with no idea what was about to happen. So, picture the scene: Jesus and the disciples are out at sea, all very comfortable and chilled out. All was calm; all was quiet; all was safe, so they thought. Then suddenly they find themselves in the midst of a raging storm. This was a very fierce and violent storm, the waves were breaking over the boat, and beginning to fill it with water. Seeing this storm, the disciples started to panic and feared for their lives. 

The disciples had no warning; they had no time to prepare themselves. They were immediately thrown into a crisis and a very serious life-threatening storm. I assume they did everything possible to secure the ship and to attempt to weather the storm. Remember, these were fishermen, most of them were used to being at sea. They had been in wind and waves before; but never like this. It was a huge storm. And what is Jesus doing while all this is going on? Jesus is sleeping in the boat. There is this crazy storm going on all around them, and here is Jesus, unconcerned, unafraid, sleeping in the middle of the storm.

The disciples panicked, because they were confronted with the terror and chaos of this terrible storm, which we can understand. It’s likely they knew how to handle a boat during a storm; however, this storm was so fierce they thought they were going to die. 

As they confronted this storm, they realized they were staring in the face death. The storm had created feelings of fear which in turn led to panic and anxiety. As the fear of death gripped them, they turned to Jesus and woke him up and said Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? v38

In response to their cries, Jesus wakes up, not because of the waves, but because of the cries of the disciples. Rather than assuring them that everything will be alright, Jesus turns straightway towards the wind and rebukes the wind and says to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Instantly the winds ceased. Mark says in v40. "Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” 

Wow, this must have been an amazing experience for the disciples to watch their messiah show power of nature. The way Jesus rebuked the storm may also imply that there was an evil force behind the storm, for he calmed the waves with the same command that he used to silence unclean spirits. We read in Mark 1:23-26 "23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God! 25 Be quiet! said Jesus sternly.” Come out of him! 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.” 

What’s really interesting in the Psalms is how God stilled the storm. We read in Psalm 107:28-29 "28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.” 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.”  And when you read Psalm 65 it also suggests that "God silences the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves.” 

Psalm 65:5-7 "5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Saviour, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, 7 who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.” 

Both of these Psalms show us that the God of Israel has the power over nature. In Mark 4 we see Jesus as Lord of the storm and his power and authority over nature. 

What does this tell us about who Jesus is?

Something else to note, Jesus is with His disciples in the midst of the storm. He is with them during their fears and anxiety and panic. He is also with us.

Pause for Prayer: just take some time to thank the Lord for the way over the years the Lord has been with you not only in the good times but also in difficult times.

This should encourage us, whatever storm we find ourselves the triune God is with us. Believing this should help us to be at peace in the storm.

Can I say that sometimes in life, God allows us to go through a storm for a certain amount of time and during that time we need to believe and trust Him and allow Him to work in our lives. It’s during the storms of life we grow and learn to trust in the Lord.  Tomorrow we will look at Jesus reaction to the disciples.

Personal Prayers: