Matthew 14:22-33 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Realizing I have to qualify my question – so not counting ice, have you ever seen anyone walk across a lake – a pond – a creek? No? The other day I was wishing a couple of my golf balls could have walked across the water.
So why would Matthew include a story like this? To tell us we're supposed to walk on water?
Maybe the story says something unique about Jesus and something NOT so unique about his followers – and not just about Peter and the rest of the 12 – but about the early church – even the church of today – as well.
Maybe it's a story about focus. Jesus is focused – an evening spent alone in prayer – a sense of self – a sense of God – Jesus is right on – he's locked in! Like a baseball slugger on a hanging curve or Tiger Woods starting the back nine on Sunday with a 2 shot lead.
The disciples – they're not so focused, are they? Unsure of themselves – unsure of this Jesus – unsure of how God is acting in their lives and in the world. Aren't we like this as well?
Being focused allows us to see who we are and who we're called to be. Losing that focus keeps us from knowing our true selves.
Over the years I have worked on my golf game and have become better. I was focused with going to the driving range, practice putting on the living room carpet, and playing 3 – 4 times a week and I made progress. When I lost my focus – stopped practicing during the week – I hit a plateau – I stopped moving forward – spent most of my time catching up.
Peter tried to be focused. He can't accept the vision on the lake is Jesus until he, himself, can get out of the boat and walk to Jesus. He does great until the wind and the waves distract him – and he sinks like a rock. Lesson learned – water walking isn't a walk in the park.
I have been wrestling with this in mind about how we're called to be focused on our life in Christ – not just on Sunday mornings – but throughout the week – living this faith stuff everyday. Living between Sundays. I asked, “So how are we supposed to do that? What's that look like?”
I thought – “well, prayer, for one thing,” thinking about Jesus staying in prayer while his followers head across the lake. Then I thought about study as well – things like the Monday morning men’s group, Wednesday night Prayer Service/Adult Bible Study, or small home groups. But even that begs the question – how do you have the discipline to do this? How do we stick with the stuff that keeps us focused and fed throughout the week?
Psalm 42:8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
Realizing I have to qualify my question – so not counting ice, have you ever seen anyone walk across a lake – a pond – a creek? No? The other day I was wishing a couple of my golf balls could have walked across the water.
So why would Matthew include a story like this? To tell us we're supposed to walk on water?
Maybe the story says something unique about Jesus and something NOT so unique about his followers – and not just about Peter and the rest of the 12 – but about the early church – even the church of today – as well.
Maybe it's a story about focus. Jesus is focused – an evening spent alone in prayer – a sense of self – a sense of God – Jesus is right on – he's locked in! Like a baseball slugger on a hanging curve or Tiger Woods starting the back nine on Sunday with a 2 shot lead.
The disciples – they're not so focused, are they? Unsure of themselves – unsure of this Jesus – unsure of how God is acting in their lives and in the world. Aren't we like this as well?
Being focused allows us to see who we are and who we're called to be. Losing that focus keeps us from knowing our true selves.
Over the years I have worked on my golf game and have become better. I was focused with going to the driving range, practice putting on the living room carpet, and playing 3 – 4 times a week and I made progress. When I lost my focus – stopped practicing during the week – I hit a plateau – I stopped moving forward – spent most of my time catching up.
Peter tried to be focused. He can't accept the vision on the lake is Jesus until he, himself, can get out of the boat and walk to Jesus. He does great until the wind and the waves distract him – and he sinks like a rock. Lesson learned – water walking isn't a walk in the park.
I have been wrestling with this in mind about how we're called to be focused on our life in Christ – not just on Sunday mornings – but throughout the week – living this faith stuff everyday. Living between Sundays. I asked, “So how are we supposed to do that? What's that look like?”
I thought – “well, prayer, for one thing,” thinking about Jesus staying in prayer while his followers head across the lake. Then I thought about study as well – things like the Monday morning men’s group, Wednesday night Prayer Service/Adult Bible Study, or small home groups. But even that begs the question – how do you have the discipline to do this? How do we stick with the stuff that keeps us focused and fed throughout the week?
Psalm 42:8 By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.
I don’t know about you, but it is easy for me to lose focus even after walking out of church on Sunday morning. [Pastors, it’s not your fault!]
For me it seems to boil down to a couple of simple questions. “How do I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?” And, “How do I love my neighbor as myself?”
Maybe we begin by asking ourselves each day, “What will I do today that reminds me – reminds those around me – of my love for God?” Maybe we ask ourselves, “How will I love my neighbor – how will I love God's creation – as I love, or want to love myself?”
James 3:9-10 ‘With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.’
Before I act – before I say something meaningful – before I make a decision – asking myself those questions – until they become a part of me and my heart asks them before my mind gives me the voice. Learning to think – to reflect – to have my faith shape my words and actions as a natural reflex. Now that's focusing!
How much of what we say and do, would we say and do if we held our faith-focus throughout the week? That shift in focus would undoubtedly mean a shift in life for all of us – even the best of us – if only from time to time. It might stop us from living out our lives reacting so much of the time. When I'm driving down I-95 and a car pulls out in front of me, I can't take time to focus – I have to react.
But most of the time in my life I need to take time to focus – to remember who and what I'm called to be as a follower of Christ – to reflect on what my actions – what my words – might communicate before I act or speak. Otherwise I might find myself sinking beneath the waves like a modern-day Peter.
If we as a nation were truly focused on the life and teachings of Jesus, would we be speaking so glibly about preemptive strikes against other nations?
Would realities like AGI– be seen as business-as-usual by so many? And believe me, no matter what comments we've heard against such business actions, there are so many more folks saying, “They just got caught. We'll be more careful. You've got to run with the big dogs to get ahead in life!”
Thinking about our own lives over the past week or two – what would we have done differently if we had stopped and focused our lives in these simple teachings of Jesus? How does this show my love for God – my love for my neighbor? What would I have not done? Would I have said that to my spouse? Would I have reacted the same way with my colleague at work – with my friend – with that person in the other car? How would we face a parent, child or friend with a drinking problem – or someone facing divorce or a chronic illness? Are these questions we're brave enough to ask ourselves? They're tough questions, and often, at least for me, even tougher answers!
I guess that's what I mean about being focused – on whom I am and who I'm called to be. I guess that's what I mean by living between the Sundays – by being more like Jesus – focused on who I am – who Jesus is – who God is – and what that can mean for my life and the life of this community.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Being focused – paying attention to who we're called to be – living within the questions – living between the Sundays in the power and love of Christ – now that's walking on water!
For me it seems to boil down to a couple of simple questions. “How do I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength?” And, “How do I love my neighbor as myself?”
Maybe we begin by asking ourselves each day, “What will I do today that reminds me – reminds those around me – of my love for God?” Maybe we ask ourselves, “How will I love my neighbor – how will I love God's creation – as I love, or want to love myself?”
James 3:9-10 ‘With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.’
Before I act – before I say something meaningful – before I make a decision – asking myself those questions – until they become a part of me and my heart asks them before my mind gives me the voice. Learning to think – to reflect – to have my faith shape my words and actions as a natural reflex. Now that's focusing!
How much of what we say and do, would we say and do if we held our faith-focus throughout the week? That shift in focus would undoubtedly mean a shift in life for all of us – even the best of us – if only from time to time. It might stop us from living out our lives reacting so much of the time. When I'm driving down I-95 and a car pulls out in front of me, I can't take time to focus – I have to react.
But most of the time in my life I need to take time to focus – to remember who and what I'm called to be as a follower of Christ – to reflect on what my actions – what my words – might communicate before I act or speak. Otherwise I might find myself sinking beneath the waves like a modern-day Peter.
If we as a nation were truly focused on the life and teachings of Jesus, would we be speaking so glibly about preemptive strikes against other nations?
Would realities like AGI– be seen as business-as-usual by so many? And believe me, no matter what comments we've heard against such business actions, there are so many more folks saying, “They just got caught. We'll be more careful. You've got to run with the big dogs to get ahead in life!”
Thinking about our own lives over the past week or two – what would we have done differently if we had stopped and focused our lives in these simple teachings of Jesus? How does this show my love for God – my love for my neighbor? What would I have not done? Would I have said that to my spouse? Would I have reacted the same way with my colleague at work – with my friend – with that person in the other car? How would we face a parent, child or friend with a drinking problem – or someone facing divorce or a chronic illness? Are these questions we're brave enough to ask ourselves? They're tough questions, and often, at least for me, even tougher answers!
I guess that's what I mean about being focused – on whom I am and who I'm called to be. I guess that's what I mean by living between the Sundays – by being more like Jesus – focused on who I am – who Jesus is – who God is – and what that can mean for my life and the life of this community.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Being focused – paying attention to who we're called to be – living within the questions – living between the Sundays in the power and love of Christ – now that's walking on water!
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