Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 15
Friday


OUR FEARLESS
CHAMPION

READ:
Matthew 8:23-34
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Why are you fearful?
__Matthew 8:26
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Falling asleep was a challenging event during my childhood. No sooner had my parents turned out the light than the crumpled clothes I had thrown on the chair would take on the form of a fiery dragon and the thoughts of something living under my bed put me into a panic that made sleep impossible.

I've come to realize that the immobilizing power of fear is not just a childhood experience. Fear keeps us from forgiving, taking a stand at the office, giving our resources to God's kingdom, or saying no when all our friends are saying yes. Left to ourselves, we are up against a lot of fiery dragons in our lives.

In the story of the disciples in the storm-tossed boat, I'm struck by the fact that the only one who was not afraid was Jesus. He was not afraid of the storm, nor was He afraid of a crazy man in a graveyard or of the legion of demons that possessed him (Matt. 8:23-34).

In the face of fear, we need to hear Jesus ask, "Why are you fearful?" (v.26) and be reminded that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5-6). There is nothing that He can't overcome and therefore nothing for Him to fear. So, next time you're haunted by your fears, remember that you can rely on Jesus, our fearless Champion! __Joe Stowell

`````````````````````Lord, thank You for the reminder that You will````````````````````
```````````````````never leave us nor forsake us. When I am afraid, I```````````````````
````````````````````know that I can rely on Your presence and power```````````````````
``````````````````````to calm my heart and overcome my fears.```````````````````````
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In times of fear, call out to Jesus,
our fearless Champion.

**************************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 8:23-34**************************

23 Now when He got into a
boat, His disciples followed
Him. 24 And suddenly a great
tempest arose on the sea, so
that the boat was covered
with the waves. But He was
asleep. 25 Then His disciples
came to Him and awoke
Him, saying, "Lord, save us!
We are perishing!"

26 But He said to them,
"Why are you fearful, O you
of little faith?" Then He
arose and rebuked the winds
and the sea, and there was a
great calm. 27 So the men
marveled, saying, "Who can
this be, that even the winds
and the sea obey Him?"

28 When He had come to
...the country of the
Gergesenes, there met Him
two demon-possessed men,
coming out of the tombs....

29 And then suddenly they cried
out, saying, "What have we
to do with You, Jesus, You
Son of God? Have You
come here to torment us
before the time?"

30 Now a good way off
from them there was a herd
of many swine feeding. 31 So
the demons begged Him,
saying, "If You cast us out,
permit us to go away into the
herd of swine."

32 And He said to them,
"Go." So when they had
come out, they went into the
herd of swine.... 33 Then
those who kept them fled;
and they went away into the
city and told everything,
including what had happened
to the demon-possessed men.

34 And behold, the whole city
came out to meet Jesus. And
when they saw Him, they
begged Him to depart from
their region.

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

In Matthew 8, Christ displayed His lordship over nature. The
disciples asked, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea
obey Him?" (v.27). The obvious answer is that only the Creator and
Sustainer of the universe can do such things. Jesus is God Almighty!