Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection grow. pray. study. Daily Guide for Monday, 24 March 2014 "The power to calm all storms"
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Daily Scripture: Luke 13:1 Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. 4 Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”
6 He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. 7 He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ 8 He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”
10 He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day. 11 Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.” 13 He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, and glorified God.
14 The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”
15 Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water? 16 Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”
17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18 He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”
20 Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom? 21 It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures[a] of flour, until it was all leavened.”
22 He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem. 23 One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?”
He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside. 29 They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom. 30 Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”
31 On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.’
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[b]
Footnotes:
a. Luke 13:21 literally, three sata. 3 sata is about 39 liters or a bit more than a bushel
b. Luke 13:35 Psalm 118:26
Reflection Questions:
The Sea of Galilee sat in a kind of geologic "bowl," and was always subject to sudden, severe storms. Jesus calmed one of them and amazed his disciples. Yet he showed a different, even greater kind of power as he calmed the inner storms of an unstable man, healed a woman ailing for 12 years and gave life and hope back to a synagogue leader and his deathly ill child.
•Archaeologists found a boat from Jesus' time in mud at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee (To learn more, visit www.jesusboat.com/boat.php.) Such a small boat, with only a sail or oars for power, must have seemed terribly inadequate to deal with a violent storm. What "storms" are you facing for which your human resources seem inadequate? How can you open yourself to Jesus' power and love, letting him help bring you peace as you face those storms?
•Whether facing a violent, disturbed outcast, an influential yet frantic synagogue ruler, or a "smothering" crowd in which one fearful invalid had touched him in faith, Jesus maintained his calm self-possession. What enabled Jesus to resist fear in situations that triggered it in most people? Do you believe his quiet confidence created a more supportive, safe environment for others to change their lives for the better?
Today's Prayer:
Lord God, what I want, almost always, is for your power to quiet the storms outside of me. Give me a deeper appreciation of the love and power with which you often quiet the storm inside me instead. Amen.
Insight from Melanie Hill
Melanie Hill is the Visitor Connections Program Director in Resurrection’s Guest Services Ministry.
I hate feeling powerless. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in that sentiment. After all, none of us likes to think that we don’t have ultimate control over our lives. A few weeks back my 3 year old daughter got the stomach flu. It was awful. Yes, the mess wasn’t pleasant, but the feeling that there was nothing I could do to speed her recovery was the most frustrating. Or the feeling I get when I get off the phone with my sister who lives in California who is suffering through a terrible divorce. Not only can I not make her pain less, I can’t even wrap my arms around her and whisper “it will be okay.” Or there’s the daily struggle of being a full time working mom of four small children trying to keep the house clean, the dinners cooked and everyone on schedule. So often I feel out of control and powerless. And these are just the regular day-to-day issues. In the last month I have walked alongside friends who have suffered the loss of a spouse, or watched as their parent lost all recognition of who they are. Talk about feeling powerless! It’s in the moments that I feel the most powerless that God reminds me that I am in fact, not the one in control and that’s a good thing.
As I read through the passage in Luke this week I was amazed at the power displayed by Jesus. The power to calm the storm; both the ones that rage around us and those that rage within us. As I read through each of the four incidents in today’s passage I was reminded of another passage in scripture in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Paul shares God’s response to his request to be healed of an affliction. God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I’ve struggled with this verse for a long time. What does it mean? Does God need me to be weak? But as I read through it again in light of today’s passage from Luke I realized that although the people Jesus healed were powerless to heal themselves or their loved ones, it wasn’t weakness that urged them to reach out for Jesus’ power. There is strength in the recognition that not only can I not do it all, but that I was never intended to. When temptation comes knocking on my door or pain and suffering seem to be a constant companion it is easy to feel weak and powerless. But it’s in these moments in life when I realize that I can’t lean on my own power and strength but must rely on God’s power that I am truly free. For God’s grace is sufficient. Through God’s grace I am no longer powerless. I can hold my daughter through her sickness and love her. There is power is easing her suffering. I can pray for my sister and be there to listen when she needs it. There is power in offering comfort and support. And there is power in doing my job well, whether that’s at work or the important job of being a mom and wife. God doesn’t ask me to calm the storm. Instead he gives me the gift of grace, through which I can love others. Instead he calls me to rely on his power. And honestly, when I’m broken and weak, I can’t think of better hands to be in.
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