December 22, 2022
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Reading along with us in our Advent readings from “The Life of Jesus”? Here’s today’s reading:
Day 22 in the Book: “The Life of Jesus“
The Year of Popularity
Read Sections 3.49 through 3.52 (pages 61-63)
This book is an account of Jesus’ life and teachings told through in chronological order from the four Gospels to create one continuous story.
*If you do not have a copy of the book please contact the church at (401)667-0775 and we can get you a copy.
Advent Day 22
Always good to be reminded that when we feel like hope is lost or that the problems are just too hard that even the wind and waves obey Him! What do our troubles amount to when we grasp the One who created all who controls the wind and waves is by our side!
I looked up the parable of the homeowner that posses things inside it that are new and old because I didn’t really know this one a s well. Most interpretations were that Jesus was sharing that the Old Testament prophecies and these new teachings now that Jesus has come were both important and both had value for our faith. I thought about the old things we posses are still important and valuable but we also have new things that work better, are faster, and more effective making those things important too. We shouldn’t forget the value and importance in the old ways of sacrifice and obedience to the law as it’s the foundation of our faith but the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ gave us this faster and more effective way to truly communicate and have Christ’s presence in our life. Pretty cool for such a quick parable.
Treasures and pearls. Willing to sell everything for the kingdom of God? The fishing net pretty much the same as the wheat and the weeds. The storm on the sea. Jesus is sleeping. Great example for what we should be doing in the middle of a storm. Just like Jesus we are on Gods timeline and we are not going to drown until that day comes. In the meantime rest in his power and authority over all things. Ok. God can calm the winds. But the waves immediately subside!!!
Day 22
3.49 – 3.52
Days 19-23
The lines in God’s economy are drawn starkly: are you wheat or a weed? Are you a good fish or a bad fish? God wants us all and our relationship with Him is based in Jesus Christ but should also reflect a godly life. Hell will be a place of pain and anguish and we would not want anyone to go there. And yet the kingdom of God is exciting and valuable. We should give up everything to gain it..both in faith, maturity, obedience and service..and it will be worth it. And what Jesus brought in redefining our relationship with God and teaching new things means we are to learn and pass along those things. But it doesn’t mean we throw out the old. There are still things valuable there, so we take the old and the new and see how they fit together. And when we choose to associate ourselves with God, we become connected to a God of power and nothing is beyond Him. I love the disciples response…who is this guy..even the winds and the waves obey Him! What overwhelms us does not overwhelm God. He knows how to be at rest as we are spinning our wheels….
Jesus makes it very clear to his followers that he is the Son of God who was sent to the world to save people, the devil will try to destroy his work but the people who are a part of Gods kingdom will prevail. The angels will be the ones to separate the good people from the bad. And these people will suffer for their evil ways. Makes me think of my loved ones who don’t accept Jesus as their Savior. I don’t want this to happen to them. Will continue to tell them the good news beause I want them to be saved. And I thank Jesus for calming the storms in my life. When I take the time to rest in him, I can let things go that trouble me and move forward with what needs to be done for the day. As Paul says in Philipians 3:13-14: But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Jesus’ response when the disciples panic over the weather is ” Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” It made me think of our response to physical crises with fear….all the time. There are so many instances where the Jews and the disciples are told not to fear. I have been seeing so many situations were God is repeatedly saying not to worry, and not to fear, even about the threat of physical death. When I read about the encounters with demons, I can’t help to think about how afraid I would be if I faced a demon or possessed person. Jesus tells us not to be afraid. How does this apply to our modern circumstances? Covid….climate change…..terrorism? Do not fear.