Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 29
Wednesday


PEACE, BE STILL

READ:
Mark 4:35-41
_____________________________________________________________________________

He arose and rebuked
the wind, and said to
the sea, "Peace, be
still!" __Mark 4:39
______________________________________________________________________________

My friend Elouise has a wonderful way of putting life into clever perspectives. Once when I asked her, "How are you today?" I expected the usual "fine" response. Instead, she said, "I've got to wake Him up!" When I asked what she meant, she kiddingly exclaimed, "Don't you know your Bible?!" Then she explained: "When the disciples faced trouble, they ran to wake up Jesus. I'm going to run to Him too!"

What do we do when we are stuck in a troubling situation with nowhere to run? Maybe, like the disciples who were stuck in a life-threatening storm, we run to Jesus (Mark 4:35-41). Sometimes, however, we may try to bail ourselves out of trouble by seeking revenge, slandering the one who has caused our problem, or just cowering fearfully in the corner as we sink into despair.

We need to learn from the disciples who fled to Jesus as their only hope. He may not bail us out immediately, but remembering that He is in our boat makes a difference! Thankfully, He is always with us in the storms of life, saying things like "Peace, be still!" (v.39). So, look for Him in your storm and let Him fill you with the peace that comes from knowing He is near. __Joe Stowell

``````````````Lord, teach us to run to You in the midst of trouble.```````````````````
``````````````Forgive us for trying to bail ourselves out, and lead```````````````````
````````````us to the peace of trusting Your wisdom and ultimate```````````````````
````````````````deliverance. Thank You that You will help us!`````````````````````
____________________________________________________________________________________

Make Jesus your first option when
the storms of life threaten you.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ mark 4:35-41*************************

35 On the same day, when
evening had come, He said
to them, "Let us cross over
to the other side." 36 Now
when they had left the
multitude, they took Him
along in the boat as He was.
And other little boats were
also with Him. 37 And a
great windstorm arose, and
the waves beat into the
boat, so that it was already
filling. 38 But He was in the
stern, asleep on a pillow.
And they awoke Him and
said to Him, "Teacher, do
you not care that we are
perishing?"

39 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.

40 But He said to them,
"Why are you so fearful?
How is it that you have no
faith?" 41 and they feared
exceedingly, and said to one
another, "Who can this be,
that even the wind and the
sea obey Him!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The original Greek sheds some light on today's reading. The word
translated "storm" indicates that it was perceived as near hurricane
strength (v.37). When He was awakened, Jesus turned to the storm
and commanded, Be still!" (v.39). A more literal translation might
be, "Be muzzled!" Just as a loud and threatening animal may be
brought under control by a muzzle, so was this loud and dangerous
storm subdued. The term "ceased" could be translated "came to
rest." The fearful question of the disciples concerning who can do
such things (v.41), may only be answered__God Almighty is the
One whom the wind and the sea must obey! Here Jesus Christ
clearly reveals His deity through His mighty works.


May 28
Tuesday


DISPLAYING
GOD'S GLORY

READ:
Romans 8:1-10
_________________________________________________________________________

Those who live
according to the Spirit,
[live according to] the
things of the Spirit.
__Romans 8:5
_________________________________________________________________________

I love baseball and have been a fan of the sport since I was a little kid. I especially enjoy following the Detroit Tigers. But during a recent season, the Tigers' poor play and losing record early in the season frustrated me greatly. So for my own personal well-being, I took a break. I spent 4 days avoiding anything to do with my favorite team.

During those 4 Tiger-less days, I began to contemplate how difficult it is to give up things we've grown accustomed to. Yet there are times when God may want us to.

For instance, we may be involved in an activity that has become all-encompassing-and we know it would be best to limit it (see 1 Cor. 6:12). Or we may have a habit or practice that we know misses the mark of pleasing God, and we realize that we need to let it go because we love Him and want Him to be glorified through us (15:34).

When we do find things that interfere with our relationship with the Lord, with His help we can stop. God has given us the provision (1 Cor 10:13), and the Spirit provides the power (Rom. 8:5).

Let's lsk Him to help us not let anything block His glory from shining through. __Dave Branon

``````````````You are perfect, Lord, and we are so far from``````````````````
`````````````perfect. Please chip away at our imperfections`````````````````
```````````````through the work of Your Holy Spirit. Help us```````````````
````````````````each day to grow more and more like You.`````````````````
____________________________________________________________________________

Drawing close to Christ produces
a growing Christlikeness.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 8:1-10********************

1 There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who
are in Christ Jesus, who do
not walk according to the
flesh, but according to the
Spirit. 2 For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has made me free from the
law of sin and death. 3 For
what the law could not do in
that it was weak through the
flesh, God did by sending
His own Son in the likeness
of sinful flesh, on account
of sin: He condemned sin in
the flesh, 4 that the righteous
requirement of the law
might be fulfilled in us who
do not walk according to the
flesh but according to the
Spirit. 5 For those who live
according to the flesh set
their minds on the things of
the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit, the
things of the Spirit. 6 For to
be carnally minded is death,
but to be spiritually minded
is life and peace. 7 Because
the carnal mind is enmity
against God; for it is not
subject to the law of God,
nor indeed can be. 8 So then,
those who are in the flesh
cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the
flesh but in the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. Now if
anyone does not have the
Spirit of Christ, he is not
His. 10 And if Christ is in
you, the body is dead
becasue of sin, but the Spirit
is life because of
righteousness.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Because of human weakness, the exacting requirements of the Old
Testament law could never justify the believer before God (v.3).
Now, because of Christ's atoning death on the cross and victorious
resurrection from the dead, the believer has been given the gift of
the Holy Spirit (v.4). It is He who empowers the believer to live a
life pleasing to God.