It is so hard to be faithful in the midst of chaos. Do you ever feel like you are being assaulted by an enemy? Maybe it is the phone company who won’t give you a day’s grace so you can cash your paycheck, before cutting off your service. Maybe it is traffic; every shortcut you take seems to pile you deeper into congestion and you catch every red light. Maybe it is the feeling of losing control and life just seems to be too much to handle. We have all been there like a cork bobbing on a chaotic sea, when life itself seems to hang in the balance.
When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. (Matt 6:47-50)
In times like this I am more apt to curse than to bless. In biblical language, the sea is a symbol of chaos and evil. Israel had no Coast Guard to call, no radios on which to issue an SOS, no Navy helicopters to pluck the shipwrecked from the waves. The sea during a storm is a terrifying place. In this gospel, Christ is revealing himself as Lord over chaos. Even the great and chaotic sea, which at one time (Noah) had overwhelmed the world, cannot keep Him from accomplishing his purpose. But the disciples did not understand yet.
I am there with them often. When I am faced with my unmanageable life, and things which are beyond my control overwhelm me, I forget that I belong to the one who is lord over all of it. When my faith is placed in something finite, like my ability or the boat, I am afraid. If I remember that my faith is ultimately in the one who commands the sea and the storm, what have I to fear?
Where is your faith?
2 comments:
Flux,
Life is moutains and vallies my friend. Well I can't say that all the times . I have gone through times where I have found a nice prairie at about 7 or 8 thousand feet above sea level. Right in the middle. I wish I could sync my mind with my heart. I am so baffled by the way my faith strengthens and weakens. It seems like the longer I walk and the closer I get to the Holy One, the more I relize how much I need the blood of Christ to cover me in the end. This is the complete opposite of what I thought when I first started my walk. I believed the longer that I walked with the Lord and the closer I became to him the better I would get and the easier it would be. But drawing closer and closer to His Holiness and perfection only reviels more and more of my constant failure and imperfection. Thats why today I see more of a need and desperation for Christ in my life than when I repented and accepted him as Lord and King over my life. The the crazy thing is that my life was so much more wayward and sinful back than. I didn't understand. I was soo on fire with the Holy spirt and so grateful for this new found power, purpose and knowledge. But, I was weak and God knew that. That is why he put me on a Moutain for so long and when He knew I could handle being molded he brough me down. And maybe he brings us up when we are weak and down when we are strong.??? One of my favorite verses from James; Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Everyday I have to put on the armor of God. I have to take action and gaurd my heart and mind from this fallen deceptive world. But I have found through sacrifice for the Lord comes the greatest joy and peace.
RJA
You are an exceptional writer. In addition to all the other books you are going to write, I think you should write a daily devotional. Every time I read your blog it's dead on with what is going on in my life.
On my way home from a camping trip on July 22 I was praying for God to give me more of a hunger and thirst for him, I read your blog and it spelled out my desire perfectly. Your so in tune my friend:)
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