February 22, 2017 - PEACE, BE STILL

Day 53 - Numbers 7 & Mark 4:21-41

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”  And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:3-41 ESV)

“Hush, little baby, don’t you cry...” So starts a lullaby intended to comfort an infant into peaceful and quiet sleep. “Peace, be still” are the words of our Savior Jesus intended in this text to quiet both the raging storm and the anxious hearts of His disciples.

“Peace! Be Still!” Do you ever find yourself in need of the Savior’s word of comfort in your life? If you are human, like the rest of us, you desperately need such assurance. Whatever storms come into your life, Jesus is able to grant you His peace. That is the message of the cross where He secured the perfect peace of sins forgiven and heaven promised!

♬ When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul,
    It is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
It is well with my soul,
    It is well, it is well with my soul.
(“When Peace, Like a River,” The Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #762 stanzas1&3)

Lord Jesus, thank You for calming the storms in my life and granting me the peace of sins forgiven and the promise of heaven. Help me to remember Your peace-giving presence today and always. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Daily Bible Reading Chart
http://www.wholesomewords.org/family/bibleread/truth.pdf