Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

November 4
Tuesday


PERCEPTION
OR REALITY?

READ:
Mark 4:35-41
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Teacher, do You not
care that we are
perishing?
__Mark 4:38
________________________________________________________________________________________________

We often hear it said, "Perception is reality." That idea for Americans may have dawned on September 26, 1960__the date of the first televised debate between two presidential candidates. In front of the cameras, John Kennedy appeared composed; Richard Nixon appeared nervous. The perception was that Kennedy would be a stronger leader. The debate not only turned that election, but it also changed the way politics is done in the US. Politics by perception became the rule of the day.

Sometimes perception is reality. But not always__especially our perceptions about God. When Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a small fishing vessel, a sudden storm threatened to sink the boat. With Jesus asleep and the disciples on the verge of panic, they began to stir Him, asking, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38).

Their question sounds similar to questions I've asked. At times I perceive God's apparent inactivity as a lack of care. But His care for me goes well beyond what I can see or measure. Our God is deeply concerned for what I can see or measure. Our God is deeply concerned for what concerns us. He urges us to place all our care upon Him, for He cares for [us]" (1 Peter 5:7). That is true reality. __Bill Crowder

`````````````````````O yes, He cares; I know He cares!`````````````````````
`````````````````````His heart is touched with my grief;```````````````````
``````````````When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,``````````````
```````````````````I know my Savior cares. __Graeff```````````````````````
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Even when we don't sense God's presence,
His loving care is all around us.

*******************************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 thy feared
exceedingly, and said to one
another, "Who can this be,
that even the wind and the
sea obey Him!"

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

It appears that each of the four gospels (Matthews, Mark Luke, and
John) had a distinct audience and approach to telling Jesus' story.
Some scholars believe that Mark's telling of the story was directed
primarily to a Roman audience, and that his approach to Christ
was to present Him as the "divine Servant." This theme is rooted in
Jesus' own words about His mission when He said, "Even the Son
of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life
a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). This theme would have had a
strong connection for a Roman audience in the first century.