Template:DOD protected/October 25
October Scripture Portion: Matthew chapter 1 - Luke chapter 22 including the Gospel according to Mark.
Chapter 8 contains a unique presentation in the writings of Luke. He records something of the women who ministered to Christ. They were particularly demonstrative of their affection and devotion to the One who had delivered them.
Notice again the parable of the sower, recorded in verses 4-15, with its explanation given in verses 11-15. The seed is God's Word, and this parable is a prophecy of the reception of it in the world. Some will not even listen; some will listen but soon fall away; some will hear and receive, but gradually lose interest and not live for the Lord; and some will hear, receive, and follow the Lord to final rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
In verse 25 Jesus asked the disciples a very pointed question. The setting was on a small ship. Jesus had told His disciples to launch the ship and go to the other side of the lake. As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep and a storm arose. The disciples were afraid and woke Jesus, telling Him they were perishing. Jesus "rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and there was a calm." Then Jesus asked the question, "Where is your faith?".
Today there are raging storms on the sea of life, and Christians get frustrated as to how to cope with them. Jesus asks those Christians the same question, "Where is your faith?" He is as near to us as a simple prayer. All He asks is that we surrender those storms and fears to Him and He will calm us as He did the sea. It is interesting to note here that though the disciples were afraid when the sea was raging, they did know to go to Jesus with their fears. Only He could calm the sea! So many people today are trying to calm their own sea of life. When this happens, the sea gets rougher and the problems become greater. Child of God, or unsaved friend, let me say again to you that God and you are a majority! No matter what may befall, if God is on your side, the victory is won. Our problem is that we are just not willing to take our problems to the Lord in prayer. The old hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" comes to my mind and heart almost daily. The words seem to meet the need of the daily trials and problems in this life. "What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!" The writer of this hymn knew how to surrender everything to God. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for you. You need only to go to Him in prayer, surrendering everything to Him.
MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY: Man now can be: Justified. Acts 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
