11-28-2016

Good Morning All,

           Matthew 14:29-30: “He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

    Most Sundays I lead three worship services.  The first one is at 8:00 ma and is a close-knit congregation that usually shares coffee, juice, cookies and some great stories after worship services.  Most of the time, I have to take a “cup of joe to go” so we can make it to the next service.  As I was leaving the lady who made the coffee said it was almost finished.  This was strange because the coffee pot was usually going right away.  She explained the delay by saying, “I plugged it in but didn’t turn it on.”  I think that can explain an awful lot of my life; I am plugged in but not always turned on.  I am sort of involved from the edges but not completely involved and sometimes miss what happens.  It used to be called “too many irons in the fire.”

    I wonder sometimes if many of us do not experience this same phenomenon in our faith life.  We are plugged in just not turned on.  We know in our head that we are saved.  We read the Bible and grasp and believe that Jesus came into this world, was crucified for us and raised from the dead for us and that by believing this fact; we have eternal life.  We are comfortable in our faith but, for the most part, our faith rests on a shelf that we take down when we think we need it.  We are plugged in but we are not turned on and we fail to utilize all that our faith can give us.

    Many of us are like Peter, we need to get out of the boat and keep our eyes focused on Jesus.  We want to stay connected with the sinful world because we are comfortable, we know leaving the boat is the best but we just like to stay in the boat.  Yet Jesus bids us to get out of the boat.  Jesus bids us to come to him and to trust him fully.  When we do this, we find a confident peace that the world and the devil cannot harm.  When we fail to use the gift of faith in its totality, we suffer.  When we lack a complete faith, we bear worries and burdens, fears and unwarranted guilt.  We carry weight which Jesus has already removed from us.  Full joy of faith is found when we get out of the boat and hear the voice of Jesus and follow him completely. 

    We can have a saving faith that is a faith that is plugged in.  But a stronger and greater faith is always possible and it is this faith that leads us to live our life in full hope and trust.  We have to get out of the boat and keep our eyes focused on Jesus.  This is the source of our greatest level of contentment, peace and living in hope.  This is the life that Jesus wants you to have so get plugged in and turned on.

Father in heaven, lead me to trust in your wonderful loving promise.  Guide me by your Holy Spirit to leave the cares of this world behind and to follow you completely.  Help me to get out of the boat and be completely turned on to your grace and mercy.  Lead me forward in service to you.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret