Let Him Onto the Boat!

Yes, it is a childish part of me but for some reason, I will choose to stand behind a corner and yell “Boo” at an approaching friend or come quietly behind a person and say “Hi” just a little too loudly. Inevitably, they are startled and I laugh. It’s all fairly harmless except for the aggravation it causes for some of my victims. 

Much less fun are those moments when life takes a turn for the uncontrolled, when situations go badly.  We feel tension rising, perhaps fearful of what is next. I make no claim to understand it all nor do  I choose to retreat into simple platitudes in a useless attempt to feel better. It is best, Christian friend, in such moments to invite Jesus into the boat.  What do I mean?

Take a look at this story from John’s Gospel.  "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading." (John 6:16-21, NIV)

The key lesson for me in that account is the one of faith, the importance of welcoming Jesus when life goes sideways, when the storms arise. There are a couple of facts we must not miss if we want to ‘get’ the full impact of the story.

First, Jesus chose not to go with them.

It was time to go home, a trip across the lake. They waited around ‘til dark and Jesus did not show up so they finally decided to just go home. I have to wonder if they were a little put off about that. Did they wonder where He was? Were they irritated that they had to make the trip in the dark?  Then, they found themselves rowing into a strong wind on choppy water.  Again, my imagination has them complaining about the delay in departure while they are rowing, feeling growing concern about the weather.  I believe it was a ‘set up.’ He choose not to go because He wanted to reveal Himself to them in a new, deeper way!

Second, when Jesus did show up, His Presence was not, at first, comforting!

Jesus showed up in the middle of the lake, without a boat!  God’s Presence is often comforting, but not this time.  Before you accuse them of cowardice, think about. A man is walking through the darkness, on stormy waves of a lake, some distance from the shoreline! They were frightened half to death. John implies that they initially resisted His approach. It’s not a long stretch to imagine that their terror caused them to scream at this “thing” to go away. Until, He spoke and His voice, familiar to them, assured them that this was no ghost. This was their Friend, joining them, so they then welcomed Him into their boat. 

 

John offers scant details about what happened next, but it appears He miraculously moved their boat from the storm to the home port. The experience was a moment of revelation. Jesus was truly “Immanuel” – God With Us. When they responded to Him in faith, they found His Presence enough for their need. 

 

Could it be that God is allowing the stormy season in your life so that He can reveal Himself in a deeper way, so that He can grow your faith and your understanding of Himself? 

Our “Sunday School” ideas about Jesus often tame Him, make Him into a nice, comforting Presence fitting neatly into our lives without disturbance. That is not the Jesus of the Gospels. He does not ‘fit into’ my life, or yours, neatly. Often, when He shows up, it is surprising, terrifying, disturbing, disorienting.  He is the Lord of Life and it is His right as our King and God to appear in our lives as He wishes.  When He does, in the middle of our fear over the unexpected, let us listen for His voice.

There is another story found in Luke’s Gospel that reveals a similar kind of fear. After His crucifixion, while they were still grappling with the Resurrection, Jesus showed up among them. The Gospel says " While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:36-39, NIV)

Do feel like you’re rowing through the storm alone? What has come over you? Sickness, a change in employment, or a broken relationship, or even perhaps death has made life dark and difficult. Pause, pray, wait. When Jesus shows up to meet you welcome Him INTO the situation. He may calm the storm, He may take you out of the storm, or He may go through the storm with you. Exercise faith to welcome His Lordship, trusting not for a specific outcome, but to love and keep you no matter what happens. Open your heart and your mind to His Presence, listening for the voice of the Spirit.  Don’t be afraid. Be full of faith.

The word from the Word is an invitation. "Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. Don’t let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ." (Colossians 2:7-8, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Peace In The Midst Of The Storm

When the world

That I've been living in

Collapses at my feet

When my life

Is shattered and torn

Tho' I'm windswept and battered

I can cling to His cross

And find peace

In the midst of my storm

 

There is peace in the midst

Of my storm-tossed life

Oh there's an Anchor

There's a Rock

To cast my faith upon

Jesus rides in my vessel

So I'll fear no alarm

He gives me peace

In the midst of my storm

When in twenty-four short hours

Years of living

Are brought to moments

And when life's final picture

Is taking form

In the dark-room

Of my suff'ring

There's a Light

Comes shining through

He gives me peace

In the midst of my storm

 

When my body has been broken

'Til it's wracked in misery

When all the doctors

Shake their heads

And look forlorn

Jesus comes to make my bedside

A cathedral of hope and love

He sends His peace

Right in the midst of my storm

 

Stephen R. Adams

1978, 1981, 1998 Pilot Point Music

CCLI License # 810055

The Joy of Being Real!

I have a lot of fun with the filters that are part of the camera app in my smartphone. Don’t like that person in the background? Erase them.  Want the day to look brighter, instead of gloomy? Add some light to the picture.  With a few touches on the screen I can look younger or older. I can take some pounds off of my face, smooth out the wrinkles. It’s pretty harmless stuff but the same kind of technology can be used to create complete fiction, false narratives; yes, fakes!  

I read a person’s social media yesterday and realized that the information was completely unrelated to the reality of his life but there it was, published as fact. I wondered if he believed his own stories or he is just willing to lie to create a ‘better’ appearance?   In Texas, there is a great phrase for those who hang fake degrees on the wall or who boast of accomplishments they have not really achieved:  they are said to be ‘all hat and no cattle,’ a guy without any cows or a ranch who thinks he’s a cowboy!

There are many reasons people choose to be fakes - disappointment with outcomes, a lack of recognition, failure, and comparison to others are among the reasons that some choose to live a lie. That choice is a double tragedy. The opportunity to pursue success is not possible when a person’s energies are devoted to propping up a false front and that person never finds out who he really is or what he is really capable of doing. Focused on trying to be somebody else, he misses the joy of being who God created him to be, joyfully filling the place in this world that God, through spiritual gifts, experiences, and opportunities, creates just for him.

Are you a 'real' Christian?  

I make no judgments about the salvation of another, for I am no one’s judge. But, I do know that some who claim to be in Christ Jesus live inauthentically, trying hard to be someone they read about or admire, instead of becoming the person God desires them to be.  God wants to make you a saint, inside out, not a copy of another, but someone unique, authentic, real!  Basic to discovery of His will and knowledge of His grace is living confessionally.  When we fail, we own it, and seek His grace which is freely given. We when succeed, we rejoice, and praise Him for His love. When we are unsure, we wait without speaking empty words, letting God shape His truth in us. Our constant prayer is that our inner private experience is aligned with our conversation and action. 

Jesus reminds us that turning religion into a public performance is a sure way to becoming inauthentic and He teaches us to do our best praying, giving, serving without fanfare. Here’s how The Message paraphrases His words found in Matthew 6. “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘playactors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." (Matthew 6:1-4, The Message)   

A word of full disclosure is in order here. One of the occupational hazards of being a pastor who stands ‘up front’ is the temptation to look better than I am!  I pray to resist the lure of inauthenticity everyday by the power of the Spirit.

There is wonderful freedom to be real found in this fact – God loves YOU.  He will not love us more if we are thinner, taller, smarter, admired by others, rich, or dressed in the latest fashion. He is unimpressed by our ability to pray eloquent prayers or boast of great insight into theology.  

Jesus told a story to a group of religious leaders who knew all the right words, who did a lot of ‘right’ things on the outside, but whose hearts were not aligned with the will of the Father.  Jesus said that a man had two sons to whom he gave a direction. The first son waffled about compliance, actually refusing the order, but then changed his mind and did as he was told. The second son answered him, “Of course, right away,” but did nothing.  Which one was ‘real?’  The one who actually obeyed, not the one with all the right words. He then offered this shocking conclusion to those who were pretenders: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do." (Matthew 21:31, NLT) 

Self-acceptance can be difficult. Looking in the mirror- physically and spiritually - reveals reality which isn't always pretty. But, we are basically worthless to God and ourselves until we face the facts, get real, and let Him begin to transform us. He offers us His Spirit to work on us but not just for a 'make-over' on the outside. He creates real disciples, full of the Spirit, marked by a depth of character that no one can deny! This transformational process is called sanctification. That just a big word for 'becoming like Christ' through the school of the Spirit! There will be blunders along the way, but - if we are committed to Him and to being authentic- we can be sure that His promise - "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)- will be true!

Be challenged by the inspired words of Paul. Think deeply.  The word from the Word today - "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." (1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT)

Get real – with God, with yourself, and discover the amazing person He created you to be. Don’t settle to be ‘all hat, no cattle!’

______________

Be Glorified

Your love has captured me

Your grace has set me free

Your life the air I breathe

Be glorified in me

 

You set my feet to dancing

You set my heart on fire

In the presence of a thousand kings

You are my one desire

And I stand before You now

With trembling hands lifted high

Be glorified

 

Be glorified in me

Be glorified in me

Be glorified in me

Be glorified

 

Chris Tomlin | Jesse Reeves | Louie Giglio

© 1999 Rising Springs Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs

CCLI License # 810055

The Evil, the Good

9/11 is a date indelibly written into the minds of Americans who were alive that awful day. The morning, a beautiful Fall one, quickly turned into one of death, fear, sorrow, and destruction. The contrasts in our memory are stark. On one hand we remember the evil that guided the actions of 19 young zealots. Then, we remember the awesome courage of first responders, hundreds of whom died that day, and many who have suffered sense then. We remember the sweetness of unity that swept across our land, an outpouring of concern for one another that reminded us of the best in ourselves. 

As we remember, let’s not forget the fact of real Evil, dear friend.  There is an Evil One who hates you, and me, and life, and light! His work was evident in the hatred that fed the acts of those men that day, but he has not stopped in his efforts to destroy life, to spread darkness, to stir hatred.  “Is the Devil real?” Some ask. About half of Americans do not believe that there is a real, sentient being who actively opposes God and good, thinking this a superstitions left over from a time of lesser knowledge. He hides himself and his work in that disbelief.

In the book of the Revelation, full of strange imagery and language, John informs us about the ongoing war between good and evil.  His inspired words help me to pull back the curtain between the invisible realm that is as real as the world of my senses. He saw an ‘enormous red dragon’ (Revelation 12) who was poised to destroy the Messiah at his birth, who rebelled against the order of Heaven, who was kicked out of the Presence of God, and who now has “come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time.” (Revelation 12:12, NLT)  Evil has a name and a personality! "This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels." (Revelation 12:9, NLT)

It is true that much division, suffering, and conflict comes to this world because of ignorance, poverty, religion, or pride.  But, what is behind those ills of humanity?  Consider this. The Bible presents us with the fact that Evil is an organized conspiracy, orchestrated by the Devil, who works through the demon spirits, with the ultimate goal of destroying all that God has created and loves. War-mongering politicians, greedy corporate kings, abusive spouses, and kids who hate their parents share a common inspiration – the Devil!  If we fail to understand this we will attempt to solve problems by focusing only on symptoms, while allowing the disease of true evil to flourish. As important as education, eradication of poverty, and behavior modification might be in the effort to make the world a better place in which to live; they have limited ability to change a human heart. Only Christ Jesus can set us free from slavery to Satan and our own sinful nature. Only the Holy Spirit can transform our minds and hearts so that we are able to live whole and holy lives.

 

That is why as I remember 9/11 my prayer is a simple one, the words of Jesus – “May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven!”

I do not fear Satan or his demons because I live under the authority of Christ who defeated evil at the Cross, and ultimately triumphed at the Resurrection.  But,  I have real respect for the power of evil, and so should you.  Christ Jesus restores my identity as a ‘child of God’ and the Spirit of God live in me. I am secure. John says of Believers, "they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony."  (Revelation 12:11, NLT) He alludes to the Exodus story, where the Israeli people who obediently responded in faith by putting the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts escaped the death angel’s judgment.  

Christ is our Passover, our Protector from spiritual destruction.  And yet, we face the attacks of the Devil.  He (and his forces – spiritual and human) come at us. Though we live in a world ‘with devils filled,’ that ‘threatens to undo us, we will not fear for God has willed His truth to triumph through us.’ (Martin Luther) 

Here’s a word from the Word. Meditate on it then pray to be a part of the Divine Conspiracy to save Creation from the Devil and to see God’s kingdom come!
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world,
and the world listens to them.
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us;
but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.

This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."  (1 John 4:4-8, NIV)

____________

The Lord's Prayer (It's Yours)

Father let your kingdom come (holy holy)

Father let your will be done

On Earth as in Heaven (let it be done)

Right here in my heart

 

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us forgive us

As we forgive the ones who sinned

Against us forgive them

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from the evil one

Let your kingdom come

 

It's yours it's yours

All yours all yours

The kingdom the power

The glory are yours

It's yours it's yours

All yours all yours

Forever and ever

The kingdom is yours

 

On Earth as in Heaven

Right here in my heart

 

Bryan Fowler | Jacob Sooter | Matt Maher

Be Essential Songs; bryanfowlersongs; Caroco Songs; Just When Publishing; So Essential Tunes

CCLI License # 810055