November 2, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 8 (NIV)
The Parable of the Sower
1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means...........Continue Reading
We think it’s only the apostles that traveled with Jesus. Women played a key role. The pursuit of wealth in this country is what strangles people from pursuing God. Love the truth of the apostles in the storm. Jesus is asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat. Asleep!!! Exactly what we should do in a storm. Rest in the will of our father!! As Jesus has shown
When you see all that Jesus does in this chapter…calming the stormy seas, raising, the dead, casting out demons, healing the sick…You go back and consider the parable of the sower. It strikes me how so many can hear about the power of God and the salvation that He brings and yet can turn away and let Satan steal this news from them. That they would hear it and not be excited or encourage a deeper relationship with Him seems crazy but yet it’s what this world does. They come up with excuses or reasons why Jesus wasn’t and isn’t real…so sad!
Luke 8 – there’s so much in this chapter but I love when they are on the boat and the disciples are in a panic and Jesus just steps up and rebukes the wind and the waves calm down and Jesus says where is your faith, how quickly they forgot all they have witnessed and he’s shared with them, something we do so often in times of trouble where is our faith, we shouldn’t fear if we have the Lord as our Savior!
The word of God is consistent and true, it is the condition and receptivity of the human heart that determines it’s effectiveness, and the life and behavior that flows from our internalization or the rejection of the word will eventually be known so we have to be careful how we listen. And if there is not enough conviction and encouragement to hear and follow the word of God in those things, when we do that and put it into practice, we are more like Jesus’ family than His biological family.
And the next set of miracles shows us that there really is nothing Jesus can’t do. He has the ability to control weather and the elements. Evil spirits are subject to Him. Even death is something Jesus can handle. And His power is so great, that if you touch Him with faith, then you can be healed, healed of something that is longstanding even. I love the account here. Lots of people are touching Jesus, but only the woman is reaching out to Him in need and in faith, and that is the reason that power leaves Jesus to heal her. “I know that power has gone out from me”. Jesus is amazing!
Luke 8
I like to read after everyone else does so I can read your comments! I was really struck by what Mark and Cindy said about our response to a storm or troubles. Jesus’ question, “where is your faith?” is a question for us when we face trials, persecution, troubles. Anxiety and worry are not not “faithful” responses. I do find myself praying and “waking Jesus” when faced with troubles, but I know He is not asleep.
I was also thinking of the parable of the sower: “And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” I am wondering, how do Calvinists reconcile the parable of the sower with “Total Depravity”? I know that they reference the “there is none good, not even one” scripture….but I always took that as hyperbolic, to demonstrate that we are all alike, “all under sin” in Romans 3. I consistently find scripture referring to people in the Bible as “good.” Which I know does not mean: good enough to obtain their own salvation, but it also doesn’t mean: unable to walk in righteousness to a certain extent.