Readings for the Day:
I Kings 19:9-18: On Mount Horeb, where God had appeared to Moses with typical signs of God’s presence—earthquake, wind, and fire—Elijah now experienced God in ‘sheer silence.’ God assured Elijah that he is not the only faithful believer. Seven thousand Israelites are still loyal. God instructed Elijah to anoint two men as kings and to anoint Elisha as his own successor.
Romans 10:5–15: A right relationship with God is not something we achieve by heroic efforts. It is a gift received in the proclamation whose content is Jesus Christ. This proclaimed word creates our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence Christian proclamation is an indispensable component of God’s saving action.
Matthew 14:22-33: Matthew’s gospel typically portrays Jesus’ disciples as people of ‘little faith,’ who fail despite their best intentions. In this story, Matthew shows how Jesus comes to the disciples when they are in trouble and sustains them in their time of fear and doubt.
‘From Sunday & Seasons, copyright 2023 Augsburg Fortress’
Questions To Ponder:
1— How do you hear the voice of God? (I Kings 19:9-18)
2—How do you confess Jesus in your life? (Ro. 10:5-15)
3—What are the storms in your life? (Matthew 14:22-33)
4—How do these texts speak to you today?
Prayer: O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son. Amen.