Living in the Tension

Living in the Tension

Scripture: Matthew 14:22-32

³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (NRSV)

Observation:

Paintings of Jesus walking on the water have always fascinated me. There is Jesus with his hair waving in the wind, and Peter sinking beneath the waves with his hand lifted up to Jesus. Jesus is depicted as lowering his hand to raise his disciple from the murky depths. Perhaps this is the image that Tolkien was going after when Frodo tries to leave Sam behind. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful picture of Jesus rescuing his friend.

The question that arises in my mind is what is Jesus rescuing Peter from. When I have heard the texted preached it seems that many focus on the impulsivity of Peter to step out of the boat. We tend to think that Peter gave no thought to what he was doing. That may be true, but perhaps Peter did think. Maybe Peter knew exactly what he was doing and he had enough faith to step out and walk on the water. In fact, the water never seems to be the issue for Peter. That blasted, unnatural wind, is what frightens him. In the original language, the wind is supernatural, at least in the eyes of the disciples.

They realize that this is no typical storm. Actually, the same type of storm was recorded when Jesus was sleeping in their boat. Apparently, the enemy was trying to destroy these followers of Jesus. Therefore, they are afraid. For the moment, Jesus has strengthened their faith. Peter asks Jesus to call him. He does not step out until Jesus says that it is ok to do so. Peter is exercising all the faith he has.

It is not until he feels the force of the winds pushing against him. It is when he remembers there is a fierce storm pressing against him that he begins to waver. He begins to doubt, and in this lapse of faith, he begins to sink. He does not seem to go directly under but as his faith wanes he slips increasingly under the water.

Application:

Peter lives where we all do, if we are completely honest with ourselves. We live between faith and doubt. Saying we have faith is great but until it is tested, we do not know just how strong our faith really is. Walking on water is not the test of our faith, but it was for Peter. He actually did pretty well. Considering he did not sink as soon as he stepped out of the boat.

Nevertheless, we all have a boat to step out of. Perhaps our boat is believing that Jesus is the Son of God. Maybe our stepping out is trusting Jesus with our job, children, spouse, financial needs, or physical needs.

We all have boats to step out of, and often we will do pretty well, until we reach the limit of our faith. It would appear that it is true that no matter how much faith we may boast we have, until it is tested it is not proven. Peter’s faith was good enough to walk on water, but not enough to face the attack of the enemy. He was happy to come to Jesus, but doubts set in when the enemy’s schemes caught his attention.

Perhaps someone has stepped out in faith recently, but some other distraction has caused your faith to wane. Perhaps you find yourself sinking into the deep waters of despair. The beauty of the story is that when Peter calls for Jesus to save him, Jesus does. This reveals that Peter’s doubt was not sin; no, it was merely doubt. He reached the limits of his faith and Jesus would reach out his hand and increase Peter’s faith a little bit more. Imagine, a little faith allowed him to walk on water, when Peter’s faith was greater he would be martyred.

Have you reached the limits of your faith? Have you come to the place where fear and doubts have set in? We all do, in some measure, at every point in our journey we are tested to our limits; nevertheless, do not fear for when you call on Jesus he will not let you sink. He will raise you up, he will teach you, and you will recognize that he is The Son of God.

Prayer:

O Lord, I am not all that I would like to believe I am. I have only as much faith as I have had tested and successfully exercised. Jesus, when I begin to focus on other things, and turn my eyes to the left or to the right I find I begin to sink. Strengthen me in my weakness, and O’ my Jesus, SAVE ME!

Sabbatical Day 3 (Sunday)

Sabbatical Day 3 (Sunday)

It was a bit strange being away from the family we worship with each week. It was a day of losses all the way around. Lisa and Zach returned home after lunch. Together with the absence of our church family the day seemed a bit empty. There was simply a sense of loss. While my role is to pastor, the people I shepherd are also my family. For 11 years I have dedicated their babies, baptized them, counseled them, performed marriage ceremonies, prayed with them before medical treatment, sat in their hospital rooms, watched their loved one breathe their last, and then embraced them as they said goodbye at the cemetery.

We have (the church) paid their mortgages, bought groceries, given vehicles, etc. We are a family. However, it is not what we do for each other that makes us a family, it is the one for whom we do it, that binds us together. It is not that we have chosen each other, but he has chosen us. To love those whom he has given us. Each person is a special treasure to God and he desires that we go out and love others as he has loved us. It is this love that binds us together as the Family of God.

There are many definitions of love in our world today. But there is only one God, and he defines love out of who he is, not out of what we say about him. God’s love is an expression of his very nature and is manifest in the person of Jesus Christ. God’s love is only limited by his inability to go against his own nature and plans. In the family of God we are to freely love with his love, just as he loved us. How? He showed us in Jesus the Christ. Jesus is the love of God in flesh. He is, because he is both man and God. Showing us what it is to be human, filled with his Holy Spirit.

Though I felt a bit of loss today, I realize that there is no loss at all. For in Christ there is only gain. Though I may be parted for a time, in the end all things will be restored and life will be the fuller. The delay may seem long but our sweet reunion is always but a day away.

Lord, I look forward to your return. You are patient in reaching all who would be saved. Though for a time we suffer loss and trials of all kinds we know that you love us and remain with us as we journey on the way. May your peace comfort us, and your love drive us to bring forth new born believers into your wondrous family. As you entrust them to us, may we also be faithful to feed, nurture, and shepherd them into your paths of righteousness for your names sake.

Sabbatical (Saturday)

Sabbatical (Saturday)

Lisa and I have been spending good quality time together. I believe it has been healthy for us to share this quite time. Before Lisa arrived Thursday I was able to change a class for seminary to September. This was a great stress reducer as I have so much going on in August. It is not east for me to do this as I am an overachiever. I know that this will provide better quality time for Lisa and me. I do not realize how ministry is often in the front seat of my life and Lisa ends up in the back seat.

One thing that has become clear to me is that I need to spend more time acknowledging Lisa. I realize that I am taking her for granted. I am sure that I do, though not intentionally. I think that is something that happens when our focus shifts away from each other. I use the word shift because it is not intentional it is gradual and almost indistinguishable until one realizes their eyes are on something else.

I think this is what we tend to do with God. We focus on Jesus and his Word, but over time our gaze slowly shifts. We do our daily work (even ministry) and soon we have shifted our eyes away from him. We have not shifted our hearts, just our attentiveness. Soon we are no longer experiencing Jesus, we are experiencing life, our life. If we remain inattentive we like sheep will go astray. Of course, as in marriage, we find painful circumstances that cause our attention to return to our beloved. It would seem to me that my eyes have shifted, not my heart, but I find myself in a bit of a desert place, looking for the one I love.

It would be nice if finding my beloved was as easy as turning around; however, turning is just the start to the process of restored intimacy. It is not because my beloved wishes to remain distant, but there is confession to be done. Acknowledgement that I have lost my focus, that I have become cool, and that I desire, truly desire, to mend the way and embrace once again my beloved. The path back is more for healing than anything else.

Some folks today seem ready to run and say I am sorry. Hoping, to pick right up where they left off, but in so doing they miss the journey to a deep and lasting love relationship. A speedy return often leads to mediocre intimacy. The longer, slower, journey leads to lessons learned, mistakes to be corrected, and an awareness of pitfalls to avoid. The slower road often leads to a deeper and more fulfilling intimacy. I want no less in my relationship with Jesus than I do in my marriage. One need not fail to lose sight or become distant. No it is a slipping away usually the result of a lack of attentiveness. One needs simply to realize that things are cool and need to be fanned into flame.

O’ May the Spirit of God blow across my heart and kindle the flame anew. May I burn once again with the flame of his holiness.  Let your love burn brightly in my heart for you, so that I might love others as you have loved me. Restore in me the song of love that draws me daily to you

Hope & Reconciliation

2 Samuel 17:23

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order, and hanged himself; he died and was buried in the tomb of his father. ^[1]

Observation:

Ahithophel was a trusted advisor to King David. So much so that his words were considered to be as from God. Absalom, David’s son, also trusted him greatly and found that he was a valuable ally in trying to overthrow his father the king. However, David was God’s anointed king. Absalom was sinning by trying to destroy his father. David had prayed that Ahithophel’s counsel would become foolishness. Interestingly, Ahithophel’s counsel for Absalom was still sound, instead it was in the mind of Absalom and the leaders of Israel that his counsel seemed foolish. Instead, Absalom follows the counsel of Hushai, David’s spy. This is too much for Ahithophel to bear. His authority has been broken; to ignore the counsel of one so highly accepted reduced him to a liar or fool. His ego is broken. Perhaps he realizes that David would never have questioned his authority and now he is nothing to the new king. Like Judas, he realizes he has betrayed the one true king. In his desperation, he hangs himself.

Application:

            It is one thing to betray other humans, it is entirely another to betray God. Ironically, when we betray others, we are betraying God. The depth of failed betrayal can produce extreme loneliness and remorse. Ahithophel could not imagine returning to David, and Ahithophel had rejected him. Judas could not imagine returning to Jesus (since he was crucified) and the Rulers of Israel rejected him. In both cases, death seemed the only viable option. Many at sometime in their life feel this kind of despair. They become overwhelmed with bad choices, and sense that there is no one to turn to. They think of how friends will not understand, how those they may have hurt would never accept them, even the church seems to be only a place of judgment, and Jesus seems to perfect to come to for help. Sadly, there are many folks walking around as dead as Ahithophel and Judas. Hopeless!

            I do not know what David would have done, but we do know what Jesus would have done for Judas. Had Judas waited for the resurrection and run to the nail pierced feet of Jesus, Jesus would have restored him. Yes, Jesus would have forgiven him. That is what the Body of Christ is to do. We are in the reconciling business. Perhaps it is time for the Body of Christ to remember that we are not here to condemn the world but we are here to be the living revelation of God’s love. As believers we can show the incredible life changing love of God to those who believe, yet feel  unaccepted. Warts and all we are to welcome those who are lost from Jesus. Jesus is Hope!

Prayer:

            Lord, forgive us for our failures and for our betrayals. For we have betrayed others as well as you. Perhaps in our minds, we believed we were doing a good thing. Whatever the case may be, we know that you know all things and judge all things rightly. Help us Lord to forgive others as you have forgiven us. May we live in such a state of forgiveness that those who are without hope would see hope in your body’s life. You have called us to the ministry of reconciliation, help us O’ God to reconcile and be reconciled. - Amen

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^[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), 2 Sa 17:23.

Really, What Giant?

1 Samuel 17:52

⁵²Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron.

Observation:

            The story of David and Goliath is perhaps one of the most famous of Bible stories. David is the hero; he is young, handsome, and God-fearing. He faces an epic struggle against the mighty villain Goliath. Sadly, most people only see the story as the little guy beating the big guy, but this is not what the story is about. It is about faith in Yahweh, and the declaration there is only one god and it is the God of Israel.

            What is fascinating is that Israel does not seem to get that their God is all-powerful. Israel forgets their entire history with Yahweh and his mighty works. David seems to be the only person who has complete faith in God. David has no fear of the giant standing before him. He takes his stone, pelts Goliath in the head, and kills him. David does not take credit for the victory he gives all the glory to God.

            Once the giant is killed the army of Israel is emboldened and take off after the Philistines. David stands out as God’s follower, and the people are no longer afraid. David proves his point that God, Yahweh, is their deliverer, and the folks decide it is safe to follow. Perhaps everyone needs a David to get the people moving in the direction of God.

Application:

            David is not out matched by Goliath. Size and ability do not matter in God’s kingdom. Or, do they? David is fairly common (other than his good looks). He is a talented shepherd. Not typically, a trait seen in soldiers but God has prepared him through his defense of flock, Israel. God did not choose someone without ability, he chose someone who was good at what he did as a shepherd, and who had faith that God could do anything through him.

            We are not all talented at everything. In fact, some of us are only talented in one thing. However, we can all have the faith of David. Faith is not a talent, and I would argue is not a natural strength.  Faith is cultivated through our response to God each day. As we trust God, he strengthens our faith and prepares us to face the Goliaths in our life. Goliath is an allusion. Just like death, he is a shadow that brings fear, but God is truth. God is bigger than anything we ever face. There are no giants in the Kingdom of God. Everything is small before him. God was not afraid of Goliath and therefore David had no fear.

            Just like Israel, many today sit in fear of the Goliaths (Healthcare coverage, taxes, lost jobs, etc.). God is not afraid of these things. He is not in fear of human trafficking, child sexual assault, atheism, agnosticism, materialism, Satanism, humanism, or any other ism we can muster. He is not afraid of the republicans or the democrats, or any nation on earth. When we trust in God, Yahweh, Jesus, we are more than conquerors. This does not mean every giant falls when we want it to, but it does mean that God will be victorious in his time and his way.

            Perhaps what we need is to show the Body of Christ that there are David’s who do not fear the enemies, and who are going out to battle in justice, and the powers of darkness in this world. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood; people are not our enemy. We must preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a message of Agape (Love). It is like a stone that penetrates the mind and heart transforming us in to the Image of God.

Prayer:

            Jesus, you are my strength. You stood before humanity and we beat you and crucified you. Nevertheless, your faith was in the Father. Though the shadow of death came over you, you did not fear the evil. I do not have such faith. I am weak but you are strong. Strengthen me by your faith, so that I might be emboldened to rush the gates of hell, so that your light can break into the hells that people are living in. Help me to fear no giant, for I know you are greater than all things. Help me to be a David to others so that they will fear no evil. You are the great shepherd. Lead me I pray. - Amen

Coming Out of the Supply Room

1 Samuel 10:22

²² So they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.”

Observation:

            Against Samuels desires the people have requested a King, just like all the nations around them. This disturbs Samuel but God reminds him that the people are rejecting God, not Samuel. God then leads Saul, a Benjamite, on a journey looking for donkeys. Saul’s journey leads him to Samuel and the declaration that he would become Israel’s first king.

            Samuel sends Saul home and tells him of the events that will take place on his journey. These include the receiving of bread, and prophesying with three prophets. The Scripture tells us that the Spirit of God was on Saul. Which leads us to wonder why was Saul hiding in the supplies?

            This is a common theme in the Old Testament, We see Moses trying to make excuses as to why he cannot do what God asks. Gideon (who hides in a winepress to thresh wheat fears the Midianites) keeps saying ‘But’ to God. The Israelites frequently doubt and fear the call of God in their lives. Saul is no different. Saul set the tone for his reign. He is a cowered who thinks mainly of himself. Nevertheless, God has chosen to make him the first King of Israel.

Application:

            From the time I was very little I have had an extreme fear of heights. I still remember when I was four or five when my dad set me on top of the refrigerator. I freaked out, screaming and crying. I am certain he did not know that would be my reaction. It did not matter that my dad was right in front of me. It did not matter that he was taller than the refrigerator. My fear of heights was greater than what I “knew” about my father.

            It is our human nature to base our actions on our own thinking about what we perceive, even when we have promises from God that he is with us. Dr. David Busic, explains that “…the way we live is a direct result of the size of our God”.¹ For Israel and Saul, they did not recognize the enormity of their God. Even though they witnessed his immense power, even though the nations surrounding them fear their God, their own fears and perceptions made God small.

            It would be easy to point the finger at Israel and ridicule them, but for many Christian’s today we are still doing the same thing. We are trusting in an earthly kings to meet our needs (America, Freedom, Government, etc.). When God calls his people to go and make disciples we might hide in the supply shed, (Church building, home, etc.). We see ourselves as too small, too weak, too ill equipped, or out numbered. Like Saul, we try to hide from the task. Even though we have seen the power of God, it does not matter, because our God becomes small and ultimately our thoughts about the situation are bigger than him.

Prayer:

            Father, You are Creator of the heavens and the earth. You are Sovereign above all things. You are a strong tower; you are our strength and our refuge. You go before me, and behind me. You will not fail. I am nothing, yet you are mindful of me. I have nothing of value yet you call me. In you, I will trust. Forgive me Lord for making you small in my life. When I fear, strengthen me. When I cannot see what is ahead, show your faithfulness in the past. Use me to do your will. - Amen