1-5-2017

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.”

    “Pay attention” “Keep focused on what you are doing” We hear that often.  When kids first start playing sports that involve a ball, the first thing you tell them is to always watch the ball.  Every so often one or two get plunked because they are looking at the concession stand or the swing set; they either learn or quit.  You have to keep focused on what is going on or else trouble occurs. 

    We hear it especially now as many areas are or have placed restrictions on texting while driving.  Even if you are only going 30 miles per hour, you are travelling at a rate of 44 feet per second.  A quick glance down, even for 3 or 4 seconds means you travel about 150 feet.  That’s a long ways.  It is important to keep your eye on the road as you drive; anything can appear in 150 feet.

    It is also true in our faith life; pay attention.  Peter walked on water until he looked at the wind and the waves.  He looked from the Savior and all of a sudden the things around him looked insurmountable.  The same is true for us.  When you or I look at the struggles of this world; they can look insurmountable to us.  In many ways they are.  You and I cannot do battle with the devil by our self and win.  Just as Peter could not walk on the water by himself, neither can you or I fight the devil alone.  When we do the devil will always attempt to deceive us and he is the best at it.

    The devil will tell you that you are all alone, there is no one who cares, there is no one who wants to care, there is no one who wants to help.  These are the wind and the waves that the devil throws at us.  It is about doubt and that is the devil’s best weapon.  Introduce a little doubt, it only takes a seed, and then we begin to see the waves and the wind and we stop looking at Jesus.  That is what faith truly is; it is looking at Jesus as the source of strength in our life.  Jesus is stronger than any wave we face. 

    “Focus your eyes upon Jesus” is how the writer of Hebrews puts it.  Keep your heart, your soul, and all you have focused upon Jesus.  It isn’t a lot of rhetoric or guess work, it is trusting in God to keep his promises just like he always has.  Faith is not a feeling; it is trusting in an objective truth which we have seen.  God has revealed the truth to us through his Word.  Trust in it and we will be saved; the waves and the wind will not win.

Dearest Jesus, when the wind and the waves attack, give us the courage to look to you as our source of strength.  Lead us according to your will that we may conquer the fears and keep our heart focused on you.  In Your precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret