FEBRUARY 20 | LUKE 8:22-25

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DAILY READING

Luke 8:22-25

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REFLECTION

 At The Mercy Of The Storm

by Judy Webb

“Suddenly the storm stopped, and all was calm.” V 24b (NLT)

The entirety of verse 24 reads: “The disciples went and woke Him up shouting, Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped, and all was calm.

The last sentence in this text drew my attention, because I realize I am fearful just as the disciples were. My boat is often shaking in a storm of one sort or another. I am learning we all move from one fear, to another, until we stop and call out, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” Those days when the water is rising, the boat is dipping dangerously, and we are fearing the worst is about to happen, it is then when we must call out.

When life spins out of control like this, we only need to remember how good our God is. Recall that time in the hospice waiting room when you called out to God because if felt like you were about to capsize. And He said these words to your Spirit: “Do not be afraid or discouraged…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 (NIV)

Or that time the mailman delivered that foreclosure notice, or the morning the car wouldn’t start yet again, and it was windy and cold outside. Maybe the fear is from something as simple as the anxiety of slipping and falling on the ice. Fear is real, but how Jesus can help us overcome this fear is also real. Call out, "Master, Master, and He will be at your side and suddenly the storm will quiet".

It is times like this when God moves purposefully on your behalf when you ask, as the disciples did, “Who is this man? That even the wind and the waves obey Him” (v.25) As N.T. Wright said, "Either we trust Jesus or we are left at the mercy of the storm. (N.T. Wright)

PRAYER

Jesus,

You are so good to us. Your word speaks to our insecurities and fears when we turn to it. It is time we realize you are right here in the boat with us. You calm the seas as you calm our hearts. You address our fears as you addressed the waves. Give us eyes to see how the storm has stopped, and all was returned to calm. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JUDY WEBB

I have been a member of UALC for 26 years and have been writing devotions for this site for about 17 of them. Writing is my passion. As retired staff I still love everything about UALC and its members including my small group.

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February 19 | Acts 1:12-14

**We need a couple of new writers. If you think that might be you...please contact me at dthompson46970@yahoo.com . It is fun and fulfilling to work with God's Word each month.

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DAILY READING

Acts 1:12-14

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REFLECTION

The Sabbath and Prayer

by Dave Thompson 

During our Luke study, I get the pleasure of speaking about Acts 1. The scripture passage for today is verses 12-14. In the opening of this passage we see again the essence of the Old Testament law. The passage reads that the Apostles were walking a Sabbath day's walk back to Jerusalem. Just to see, here is a non-official explanation about the permitted walk.

Jewish law sets the maximum walking range from one’s city to 2,000 cubits (3,049.5 feet, 0.596 miles (960 meters). [However, this measurement starts 70 2/3 cubits (112.24 ft.) from the city limits.] Practically speaking, this means that you may not walk a straight line more than .598 miles (3161.74 ft.) in any direction in the wilds outside your city limits.

It ends with this warning: "This can be complex, and a rabbi should be consulted before planning a long trek on the Sabbath."

Can you imagine calling Pastor Steve to check out if you or I had done something wrong or not. As you can see, the rules of keeping the Sabbath laws perfectly could be very difficult. A few weeks ago, I shared that at the time of Christ, there were documents that outlined these laws. At that time, there were 36 categories of things you couldn't do on the Sabbath.

I was amused when my Old Testament professor at Indiana Wesleyan shared a rule that illustrated the convoluted nature of this system of being right with God and this is just one of the laws. "It was a rule that said you could pick up your child on the Sabbath, but if that child was found to have a stone in his or her pocket, you had labored on the Sabbath and were unclean and had to make a sacrifice to atone for your gross behavior."

And again, there were 36 categories of these rules. By Acts 1, Christ had been killed due in part for His not following these rules (or at least that was part of the Pharisee's story). The other part they accused Christ of was claiming to be the Son of God.

Aren't you glad that at Christ's death and forever moving forward, when we transgress God's laws, Christians only have to understand the wrong and ask forgiveness? To further celebrate this freedom compared to the Levitical and Mosaic laws that the Jewish people were tied to; Christians are free from arcane rituals to purify ourselves. I often pray that I am sorry for anything I have done knowingly or unknowingly and guess what? From how I read my Bible, I am forgiven (1 John 1:9). Thanks be to God.

This passage finishes with all of the traveling Apostles and those that were already in the Upper Room where they all were staying. The gathered were

in constant and fervent prayer. Over the years, these prayers were answered and today, we Christians exist because of the prayers of our predecessors.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the New Covenant you created through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all of the Witnesses that came before us and for those that lead us now. You are an amazing God. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE THOMPSON

I am the administrator of the Daily Worship Blog. My wife, Carla, and I have been attending UALC for seven years at the 9 o'clock service at Mill Run. We have two children, Catherine and Aaron. I have been a Christian for 53 years and am thankful that my Savior has given me two spiritual gifts that have carried me both spiritually and vocationally all my life: they are teaching and administration. I look forward to spending many years here at UALC to serve my Lord and Savior.

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February 18 | Mark 3:31-35

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DAILY READING

Mark 3:31-35

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REFLECTION

God's Will

By Kim Starr

Do your feelings get hurt? I almost put the word “easily” at the end of that sentence and then decided it didn’t matter if your feelings got hurt easily or not. What matters is that you were hurt. Period.

Sometimes it isn’t even you who was hurt and you are feeling bad on behalf of someone else. This happens to me frequently with people telling me how bad they feel for me and I hadn’t even given the situation a thought. Then that makes me wonder if I should have paid closer attention to what happened.

The reading for today is one of those situations where I feel empathy for Jesus’ mother and his brothers. They are trying to find him and when someone lets Jesus know, his response is, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” (v. 33) Had I been his family members, his words would have cut me to the quick and hurt me beyond measure.

However, Jesus uses the moment to teach us something very important. What he said was not meant to hurt Mary and his brothers; rather, he was trying to show everyone around him that anyone who “does God’s will” (v.35) is a member of God’s family.

For God’s will to be done, his will has to be known, understood, and followed. It also means that we have to execute God’s will with appropriate behavior. Jesus modeled a life lived in perfect conformity with God’s will. Even so, that doesn’t mean that life always takes the easy course. Remember how, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed, “not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)? God’s will was for Jesus to die to save us from our sins so that we could be saved. His will to save extends to all people.

PRAYER

Oh, God, please enlighten us so that we seek your will by guidance through scriptures, prayer, the counsel of other Christians, and a wise assessment of the options before us. Then give us the ability to carry out your will to completion. Send your Holy Spirit to help us accomplish your will. Help us to be mindful of Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KIM STARR

I have been a member of UALC since I was 2-years-old. Over my life I have participated in, and volunteered for, numerous ministries, programs, and activities, all of which have grown and strengthened my faith. I have been blessed beyond measure by not only being a part of this congregation, but also by being able to worship with three generations of my family.

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