Monday, September 26, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
PENTECOST 14
September 18/19, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Romans 11:33-36
“WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND GOD, PRAISE HIM!
1. For His Wisdom.
2. For His Grace.
3. For His glory.
Romans 11:33-36 (NIV1984) “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
God is God and I am not. That is a phrase that has stuck in my head. I heard it first from a pastor friend of mine who would say it whenever we were talking about things we didn’t understand. God is God and I am not. He even wrote a paper on that topic. God is God and I am not! The Holy Spirit had the Apostle Paul write on that topic as well. His words that I read to you moments ago follow some pretty hard to understand teachings of Scripture. He had revealed teachings like Election also known as Predestination where God in His mercy and to highlight His grace chose those to be saved before the Creation of the world. That’s hard to understand. He had explained some truths that were very hard for the Jewish Christians to understand like the fact that Gentile believers were also part of God’s chosen Israel. He pointed to the hard truth that those who had Jewish blood but rejected Jesus as their Messiah in spite of all of God’s warnings and pleadings would not be saved. And then right before our text the Holy Spirit focused his and our attention on the fact that in God’s plans, man’s constant disobedience is really an opportunity for God to show mercy. We don’t think like that. These aren’t our ways of working. But they are God’s and so when Paul found himself grappling to understand God’s ways he simply burst into a song of praise. That gives us a good way to respond as well. When you don’t understand God, praise Him. Paul helps us to see what we can praise Him for.
First when you don’t understand God praise Him for His wisdom. Paul’s praise went like this: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” Paul’s words make me chuckle. When was the last time you got a phone call that went like this: “Hi. It’s the Lord. I’m having a problem and I need your advice.” That’s ridiculous! God doesn’t need advice. He doesn’t need a counselor. But isn’t that exactly what we try to do some time in prayer? Lord I have this problem and this is what I want you to do about it, taking this wonderful gift of prayer and using it like a leash as though we can yank God around. That’s the offense of “name it, claim it” theology of prayer where if you believe enough in what you ask for God has to do it. Well, I’ve got news for those folks. The almighty does not have to do anything. Nor does He take advice from creatures He created.
Or how about those other hard areas to deal with? Forgive me if I cause anyone here any pain. Why does the Christian couple who want so badly to serve the Lord by serving souls in the form of children go childless and those who neglect their kids get one after another to abuse? Why does a child die before the parents? Why do the wicked seem to get away with it? Why doesn’t God just wipe out the terrorists, the murders, the rapists? Why? Why? These questions and so many more can plague us as we strive to put to together the absolute power of God, His knowledge of all things, and square it with life in a world which seems so unfair. Brothers and sisters when you can’t understand God, stand under Him. God is God and I am not. Praise Him, like Paul did. Acknowledge that His wisdom and knowledge are so much greater. His judgments always wise and His ways beyond our ability to comprehend. Trying to figure out the wisdom of God is like staring into the depths of the ocean from the surface, seeing some fish swim by 20 feet down and thinking you’ve got. Oh no, there is some much more to the ocean depths than that and there is so much more to the wisdom of God than we can even begin to guess at. If you want just a tiny taste from just a human perspective try playing chess against someone who is much better than you. I just started playing with a friend and I watch some moves and say, “Why is he doing that?” and then make my smart move only to find 3 or 4 moves later I’m left with only bad choices for moves. I say, “How did he do that?” That is nothing compared to the wisdom and knowledge of God and His ways of working.
And for all those times you want to question His ways, if you want to see how the power of God and the wisdom of God work together look at the cross. See Jesus there. Who would ever have thought of that? Who would think of putting the power of the Son of God in man making Him vulnerable to death and then using that death to make payment for the sins of all people. Brilliant! When you can’t understand God, praise Him. Praise Him for His wisdom.
Praise Him for His grace. “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” That’s another one of those makes me chuckle question. Someone coming to God to collect on an IOU. Ridiculous! And yet there we go again in the wickedness of our hearts. I obeyed you Lord, (that one time, never mind the 99 times today I didn’t!) Now you owe me something good. My prayer should get answered. Or looking at the offerings we bring as an obligation, a must, instead of a privilege to have our pieces of paper and metal actually accepted by God as something pleasing to Him. These pay St. Jacobi’s bills, not God’s. He doesn’t have any bills. He owes no one.
And yet He still gives. God’s gifts and blessings are not payback but pay forward. He forgives not because we deserve it but because He loves us and so we will be motivated to love in return. The physical blessings we have in homes and skills and family and things, all flow from God who gives because He gives. It’s grace. God acting out of undeserved love. Remember that the next time you are tempted to cry “Not fair, God” when someone you think is less than you gets blessings you want to have. Let your whining “Why me” in the midst of adversity become a wondering “Why me?” that revels in God’s grace. Why are you so good to me Lord when I have sinned against you so greatly?
You know the Apostle Paul thought that. He didn’t have a problem with God’s dealing with the world because he had been wowed by God’s grace. As Saul he had been the Christian killer and Christ hater. He had done more harm to more brothers and sisters in the early Christian church than anyone of his former colleagues. And still Jesus had chosen him to be saved and to serve. Remembering that helped Paul when he didn’t understand how God was dealing with other people. So he praised God for his grace.
And for His glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Behold the glory of God. All the universe flows from His power and wisdom. Only though Him are all things sustained. And to Him, for Him do all things exist. God is God. He is not some sort of superhuman. He’s not one of his with X Men power. Many times when you and I are having trouble with things God has allowed in our lives or the lives of others it’s because we are trying to make God in our own image as though our ways of thinking and acting are the best and so God should be like that. But God is not the image of man. He is God and we need to acknowledge that and humble ourselves beneath Him and praise Him for His glory.
God is God and I am not. That is what my pastor friend and I would say when something didn’t make sense. We gradually added another line to it. God is God. I am not and I wouldn’t want it any other way! Oh we would laugh. What if God was like us. We’d all be in trouble. But He’s not like us and we are not in trouble. We are saved according to His wisdom and His grace and this is for His glory. Remember that when you can’t understand God. Then praise Him. Amen.
September 18/19, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Romans 11:33-36
“WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND GOD, PRAISE HIM!
1. For His Wisdom.
2. For His Grace.
3. For His glory.
Romans 11:33-36 (NIV1984) “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
God is God and I am not. That is a phrase that has stuck in my head. I heard it first from a pastor friend of mine who would say it whenever we were talking about things we didn’t understand. God is God and I am not. He even wrote a paper on that topic. God is God and I am not! The Holy Spirit had the Apostle Paul write on that topic as well. His words that I read to you moments ago follow some pretty hard to understand teachings of Scripture. He had revealed teachings like Election also known as Predestination where God in His mercy and to highlight His grace chose those to be saved before the Creation of the world. That’s hard to understand. He had explained some truths that were very hard for the Jewish Christians to understand like the fact that Gentile believers were also part of God’s chosen Israel. He pointed to the hard truth that those who had Jewish blood but rejected Jesus as their Messiah in spite of all of God’s warnings and pleadings would not be saved. And then right before our text the Holy Spirit focused his and our attention on the fact that in God’s plans, man’s constant disobedience is really an opportunity for God to show mercy. We don’t think like that. These aren’t our ways of working. But they are God’s and so when Paul found himself grappling to understand God’s ways he simply burst into a song of praise. That gives us a good way to respond as well. When you don’t understand God, praise Him. Paul helps us to see what we can praise Him for.
First when you don’t understand God praise Him for His wisdom. Paul’s praise went like this: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” Paul’s words make me chuckle. When was the last time you got a phone call that went like this: “Hi. It’s the Lord. I’m having a problem and I need your advice.” That’s ridiculous! God doesn’t need advice. He doesn’t need a counselor. But isn’t that exactly what we try to do some time in prayer? Lord I have this problem and this is what I want you to do about it, taking this wonderful gift of prayer and using it like a leash as though we can yank God around. That’s the offense of “name it, claim it” theology of prayer where if you believe enough in what you ask for God has to do it. Well, I’ve got news for those folks. The almighty does not have to do anything. Nor does He take advice from creatures He created.
Or how about those other hard areas to deal with? Forgive me if I cause anyone here any pain. Why does the Christian couple who want so badly to serve the Lord by serving souls in the form of children go childless and those who neglect their kids get one after another to abuse? Why does a child die before the parents? Why do the wicked seem to get away with it? Why doesn’t God just wipe out the terrorists, the murders, the rapists? Why? Why? These questions and so many more can plague us as we strive to put to together the absolute power of God, His knowledge of all things, and square it with life in a world which seems so unfair. Brothers and sisters when you can’t understand God, stand under Him. God is God and I am not. Praise Him, like Paul did. Acknowledge that His wisdom and knowledge are so much greater. His judgments always wise and His ways beyond our ability to comprehend. Trying to figure out the wisdom of God is like staring into the depths of the ocean from the surface, seeing some fish swim by 20 feet down and thinking you’ve got. Oh no, there is some much more to the ocean depths than that and there is so much more to the wisdom of God than we can even begin to guess at. If you want just a tiny taste from just a human perspective try playing chess against someone who is much better than you. I just started playing with a friend and I watch some moves and say, “Why is he doing that?” and then make my smart move only to find 3 or 4 moves later I’m left with only bad choices for moves. I say, “How did he do that?” That is nothing compared to the wisdom and knowledge of God and His ways of working.
And for all those times you want to question His ways, if you want to see how the power of God and the wisdom of God work together look at the cross. See Jesus there. Who would ever have thought of that? Who would think of putting the power of the Son of God in man making Him vulnerable to death and then using that death to make payment for the sins of all people. Brilliant! When you can’t understand God, praise Him. Praise Him for His wisdom.
Praise Him for His grace. “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” That’s another one of those makes me chuckle question. Someone coming to God to collect on an IOU. Ridiculous! And yet there we go again in the wickedness of our hearts. I obeyed you Lord, (that one time, never mind the 99 times today I didn’t!) Now you owe me something good. My prayer should get answered. Or looking at the offerings we bring as an obligation, a must, instead of a privilege to have our pieces of paper and metal actually accepted by God as something pleasing to Him. These pay St. Jacobi’s bills, not God’s. He doesn’t have any bills. He owes no one.
And yet He still gives. God’s gifts and blessings are not payback but pay forward. He forgives not because we deserve it but because He loves us and so we will be motivated to love in return. The physical blessings we have in homes and skills and family and things, all flow from God who gives because He gives. It’s grace. God acting out of undeserved love. Remember that the next time you are tempted to cry “Not fair, God” when someone you think is less than you gets blessings you want to have. Let your whining “Why me” in the midst of adversity become a wondering “Why me?” that revels in God’s grace. Why are you so good to me Lord when I have sinned against you so greatly?
You know the Apostle Paul thought that. He didn’t have a problem with God’s dealing with the world because he had been wowed by God’s grace. As Saul he had been the Christian killer and Christ hater. He had done more harm to more brothers and sisters in the early Christian church than anyone of his former colleagues. And still Jesus had chosen him to be saved and to serve. Remembering that helped Paul when he didn’t understand how God was dealing with other people. So he praised God for his grace.
And for His glory. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” Behold the glory of God. All the universe flows from His power and wisdom. Only though Him are all things sustained. And to Him, for Him do all things exist. God is God. He is not some sort of superhuman. He’s not one of his with X Men power. Many times when you and I are having trouble with things God has allowed in our lives or the lives of others it’s because we are trying to make God in our own image as though our ways of thinking and acting are the best and so God should be like that. But God is not the image of man. He is God and we need to acknowledge that and humble ourselves beneath Him and praise Him for His glory.
God is God and I am not. That is what my pastor friend and I would say when something didn’t make sense. We gradually added another line to it. God is God. I am not and I wouldn’t want it any other way! Oh we would laugh. What if God was like us. We’d all be in trouble. But He’s not like us and we are not in trouble. We are saved according to His wisdom and His grace and this is for His glory. Remember that when you can’t understand God. Then praise Him. Amen.
Monday, September 5, 2011
PENTECOST 12
September 4/5, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
“WHEN YOU’RE WALKING ON WATER…”
1. Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus will never let you down!
Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV 1984) “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I’m sure many of you have seen the commercials where through computer graphics or special effects technology it appears that a car is driving on water or a person walking on it. Perhaps you can think of people who command such respect it is said of them that they “walk on water.” In reality the commercials are fake and there is no living person who walks on water. But Jesus did. Jesus is the Son of God and for Him to walk on water is a little thing, something as simple as the rest of us walking on a nicely paved parking lot. But what many people forget is that someone else walked on water. Peter did!
At the time of our text Jesus’ disciples had been following Him for about two years, learning more and more about the true kingdom of God and purpose of the Messiah. They had seen many astounding miracles. Not too long before this John the Baptist had been beheaded by spineless King Herod. Jesus had just finished the miraculous feeding of the 5000. Jesus needed some of the restful time we all need, time spent with His Father and in prayer and so we are told, “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”
So while Jesus prayed the disciples, many of whom were experienced fishermen, crossed from the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee to the northwest. It sounds like it was a rough trip. The wind was against them. The waves were buffeting or the boat. But that’s not what scared them. Jesus did. He came to them walking on the water. They had never seen such a thing before so they made the only conclusion they could. It was a ghost!
But of course it wasn’t a ghost. It was Jesus and Jesus did what Jesus always does. He comforted and encouraged them. “But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” And then Peter did what he always does and spoke up boldly. I don’t think Peter will mind us describing him as someone who often spoke first without thinking through the consequences of what he was saying. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” Well it was Jesus, and He said, “Come,” Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Peter was walking on water! He took the Lord Jesus at His word and he walked on water. Can you imagine what that must have been like? That first tentative step. It holds! Then step after step, straight toward Jesus, eyes fixed on the Savior.
Brothers and sisters, it is highly unlikely that Jesus will come to us on this earth and invite or command us to walk on water. However there will come to each of us situations where we will need to do something that seems just as impossible, just as scary. Your walking on water might be following Jesus’ command to love others, actually care about where they spend their eternity, so that you have to confront a believer who is caught in the Devil’s trap of unrepentant sin. It might be plunging ahead into a spiritual conversation with that person at work who’s been confused by wrong religion overload. He might ask you to walk on the water of job loss, death of a loved one, recently diagnosed disease or cancer. It might be to walk on the water of dealing with a difficult person. Whatever it may be when you find yourself walking on water remember to keep your eyes on Jesus. You can do it just like Peter did for whatever the Lord commands and invites you to do He will give you what you need to do it. Peter successfully walked on water by simply following the command of the Savior and walking toward Him. So too for you. Keep your eyes on Jesus. What is His command to you? What are His promises for you? I will be with you and give you the words to say. I will never leave you nor forsake you. My Father will provide your need. You will never be given more than you can handle. You can do all things with my strength. When you’re walking on water remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.
And remember He will never let you down. Peter didn’t keep walking on water. Peter started to sink. What happened? “ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Peter let Jesus down. Instead of focusing on Jesus Peter looked around at all the possible scary things that could happen. He saw the effects of the wind, blowing the water, riling the waves. No doubt He felt the spray on his face. He got scared looking at all those scary possibilities. Fear became his master instead of Jesus. Even though Jesus had given him everything he needed to walk on water, Peter began to sink. He let Jesus down.
But Jesus did not let Peter down. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Jesus question was not a chiding but a statement of fact. Peter doubted. He had a lapse of faith. But you notice Jesus did not cop the attitude we find it so easy to do with others who struggle or fall into sin. You know what I’m talking about because you think it with others. “You made your bed now lie in it. Now you’re going to have to swim Peter. It’s the only way you’ll learn.” Instead, immediately, immediately, (see your Savior’s heart) Jesus reached out His hand and safely caught Peter before he could sink down. Jesus didn’t let Peter down.
When you find yourself walking on water remember that Jesus won’t let you down either. We all would hope to stay trusting Jesus in time of trial or when in His wisdom He commands or invites us to do something hard. We are all given everything we need to successfully walk on water, handle whatever seemingly impossible challenge that comes our way. The simple truth is we are weak willed sinners whose best doesn’t cut it. Our faith is never strong enough because if any of us had faith even the size of a tiny mustard seed we would be moving mountains and I haven’t done that and neither have you. How great to have Jesus who, when we doubt and break down and cry and feel like giving up, will never let us down. How great to know that Jesus, though disappointed in the weakness of our faith, will still be there to grab a hold of us before we sink into despair.
Remember that when you let Jesus down. The Devil will try to get you to push Jesus away, to feel like there is no redemption for you. If your fall is into sin He will try to make you think your sins are unforgiveable. But they are not. Jesus has paid for them in full. He is Son of God and Savior.
That’s the conclusion the disciples came to. At the end of this lesson we are told, “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” This is the conclusion we must come to as well and are happy to. Jesus, our Savior, is the Son of God. When we leave here by word and action, let’s continue to worship Him. Amen.
September 4/5, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
“WHEN YOU’RE WALKING ON WATER…”
1. Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus will never let you down!
Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV 1984) “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I’m sure many of you have seen the commercials where through computer graphics or special effects technology it appears that a car is driving on water or a person walking on it. Perhaps you can think of people who command such respect it is said of them that they “walk on water.” In reality the commercials are fake and there is no living person who walks on water. But Jesus did. Jesus is the Son of God and for Him to walk on water is a little thing, something as simple as the rest of us walking on a nicely paved parking lot. But what many people forget is that someone else walked on water. Peter did!
At the time of our text Jesus’ disciples had been following Him for about two years, learning more and more about the true kingdom of God and purpose of the Messiah. They had seen many astounding miracles. Not too long before this John the Baptist had been beheaded by spineless King Herod. Jesus had just finished the miraculous feeding of the 5000. Jesus needed some of the restful time we all need, time spent with His Father and in prayer and so we are told, “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”
So while Jesus prayed the disciples, many of whom were experienced fishermen, crossed from the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee to the northwest. It sounds like it was a rough trip. The wind was against them. The waves were buffeting or the boat. But that’s not what scared them. Jesus did. He came to them walking on the water. They had never seen such a thing before so they made the only conclusion they could. It was a ghost!
But of course it wasn’t a ghost. It was Jesus and Jesus did what Jesus always does. He comforted and encouraged them. “But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” And then Peter did what he always does and spoke up boldly. I don’t think Peter will mind us describing him as someone who often spoke first without thinking through the consequences of what he was saying. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” Well it was Jesus, and He said, “Come,” Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Peter was walking on water! He took the Lord Jesus at His word and he walked on water. Can you imagine what that must have been like? That first tentative step. It holds! Then step after step, straight toward Jesus, eyes fixed on the Savior.
Brothers and sisters, it is highly unlikely that Jesus will come to us on this earth and invite or command us to walk on water. However there will come to each of us situations where we will need to do something that seems just as impossible, just as scary. Your walking on water might be following Jesus’ command to love others, actually care about where they spend their eternity, so that you have to confront a believer who is caught in the Devil’s trap of unrepentant sin. It might be plunging ahead into a spiritual conversation with that person at work who’s been confused by wrong religion overload. He might ask you to walk on the water of job loss, death of a loved one, recently diagnosed disease or cancer. It might be to walk on the water of dealing with a difficult person. Whatever it may be when you find yourself walking on water remember to keep your eyes on Jesus. You can do it just like Peter did for whatever the Lord commands and invites you to do He will give you what you need to do it. Peter successfully walked on water by simply following the command of the Savior and walking toward Him. So too for you. Keep your eyes on Jesus. What is His command to you? What are His promises for you? I will be with you and give you the words to say. I will never leave you nor forsake you. My Father will provide your need. You will never be given more than you can handle. You can do all things with my strength. When you’re walking on water remember to keep your eyes on Jesus.
And remember He will never let you down. Peter didn’t keep walking on water. Peter started to sink. What happened? “ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Peter let Jesus down. Instead of focusing on Jesus Peter looked around at all the possible scary things that could happen. He saw the effects of the wind, blowing the water, riling the waves. No doubt He felt the spray on his face. He got scared looking at all those scary possibilities. Fear became his master instead of Jesus. Even though Jesus had given him everything he needed to walk on water, Peter began to sink. He let Jesus down.
But Jesus did not let Peter down. “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Jesus question was not a chiding but a statement of fact. Peter doubted. He had a lapse of faith. But you notice Jesus did not cop the attitude we find it so easy to do with others who struggle or fall into sin. You know what I’m talking about because you think it with others. “You made your bed now lie in it. Now you’re going to have to swim Peter. It’s the only way you’ll learn.” Instead, immediately, immediately, (see your Savior’s heart) Jesus reached out His hand and safely caught Peter before he could sink down. Jesus didn’t let Peter down.
When you find yourself walking on water remember that Jesus won’t let you down either. We all would hope to stay trusting Jesus in time of trial or when in His wisdom He commands or invites us to do something hard. We are all given everything we need to successfully walk on water, handle whatever seemingly impossible challenge that comes our way. The simple truth is we are weak willed sinners whose best doesn’t cut it. Our faith is never strong enough because if any of us had faith even the size of a tiny mustard seed we would be moving mountains and I haven’t done that and neither have you. How great to have Jesus who, when we doubt and break down and cry and feel like giving up, will never let us down. How great to know that Jesus, though disappointed in the weakness of our faith, will still be there to grab a hold of us before we sink into despair.
Remember that when you let Jesus down. The Devil will try to get you to push Jesus away, to feel like there is no redemption for you. If your fall is into sin He will try to make you think your sins are unforgiveable. But they are not. Jesus has paid for them in full. He is Son of God and Savior.
That’s the conclusion the disciples came to. At the end of this lesson we are told, “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” This is the conclusion we must come to as well and are happy to. Jesus, our Savior, is the Son of God. When we leave here by word and action, let’s continue to worship Him. Amen.
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