Mariel Zagunis won the 1st gold medal for the USA in the lightning fast
women's saber fencing. She credited long hours of hard practice and keen
eyes. Even a tiny fraction of a second of inattention would mean defeat.
Michael Phelps, Baltimore Bullet, is trying to beat the 1972 record of
7 gold medals by Mark Spitz. He also credits hard practice, a good coach,
and most of all: focus.
What does a coach say to kids learning baseball or golf? Keep your eye
on the ball.
Attention, focus, and keeping your eye on the ball won't guarantee a
victory, but NOT concentrating will almost always bring about defeat in
sports, in military battles, in relationships, and especially in matters of
Christian faith.
Our Almighty and Gracious LORD works to focus our faith and life on
Him, but like Peter we lose concentration on our Savior and sink in sin.
Still He comes to rescue us by grace!
In last Sunday's Gospel, Jesus blessed the food and used His disciples
to distribute the miracle, just as He uses His disciples today to distribute
His Word & Communion. But it seems the crowds focused on their bellies
rather than on their souls and wanted Jesus as a bread king. Such a
temptation would have been too much for the disciples, so Jesus sent them
away in a boat while He dismissed the crowds. Christ's focus is NOT to
provide our desires in this world, but to provide our Way to the next.
Jesus stayed behind not only to dismiss the crowds, but to pray: for
the thousands who misbelieved in Him; for more who needed to hear the Good
News; for endurance on His rescue-journey to the cross; and for the safety
of the 12. Christ Jesus even today is praying for us as our Advocate at the
throne of grace.
Somewhere between 3AM to 6AM, after hours of storm, this event takes
place.
You know the event well. Exhausted disciples have been battling most
of the dark and stormy night. They knew if they lost focus, they could lose
their lives. The two hour row had stretched to at least six. They were
sure it was all up to them to sink or swim, and it looked like sinking was
soon to come.
As the Lutheran Hour said, it was easier to believe they were seeing a
ghost than God, or imagining things rather than experiencing a miracle.
When we fail to believe God is at work, does that mean God isn't? Of
course not. It DOES mean our feeble faith and tiny mind is refusing to
believe the promises of the One who laid the foundation of the earth and set
up the laws of physics.
Again, just because human reason can't deduce Christ in the Holy Supper
does not mean He is absent. Eyes can't see radio waves or angels; but both
are all around us. Those of little faith need lots of proof.
Even the assurance of Jesus, "take comfort, it's Me!" was not enough for
them, nor is it always for us.
I think it is important to note that Peter did NOT jump out right then.
He asked first. I wonder how many Christians jump into deep waters
expecting to dance on the waves but haven't consulted with God or asked
permission. Christ gave Peter the faith to get out of the boat and walk on
water. How? No one knows.
Here is how this begins to apply to us. Peter is walking in faith with
his attention focused on Christ. Like athletes many admire he is focusing
on what he should, and doing a remarkable thing.
"But when he saw the wind, he was afraid."
Have you ever seen wind? No? You see the effects: leaves moving,
trucks buffeted, waves whipped up. Peter lost focus on Christ. He noticed
the impossibility of his actions; and the world around him.
Consider for a moment your recent life. Have you been focusing on
crude oil dropping 20% in recent weeks? Or the Olympic spectacle in China?
Perhaps the recent Russian war as she flexes her muscles again in search of
domination? Or are you focused on local events: problems with the family;
a new health issue; budget crunches; or worries about going back to school?
You are seeing wind.
Not only that, but like Peter you are getting that sinking feeling of
dread and disaster. How often, and how sad, when your Christian faith has
lost focus! The very time we need to be MOST focused on the cross
(hospital, scene of a bad accident, vicious verbal abuse, money crisis,
cruel depression, funeral of a friend, and so on) is when it seems Satan is
successful with some windy commotion. Not only do we fail to get Olympic
gold, but it seems as if the very crown of life is lost.
The great speaker Charles Spurgeon (baptist) says words worth repeating
here: "short prayers are long enough." Peter suddenly realized the Man who
invited him out of the boat and gave him ability to walk on water was the
Only One who could rescue him. "Lord, save me!"
The God Who spoke in Job about His six day Genesis creation, Who sent
His Son to live and die for all creation, Who personally knit you together
in your mother's womb, Who gave you new life in the waters of Holy Baptism:
He cares deeply for everything about you no matter HOW much hot water or
murky water you're sinking in. He also hears our prayers for rescue and
deliverance.
One word could have done the job. But Jesus wanted to physically
comfort Peter. How different our God is from false gods and us sinners!
Christ did not come into the world to condemn; but to save.
This is where the genuine application is for us.
While our feelings may be to let someone drown in their sin because we
feel they really deserve it, God doesn't GIVE us what we deserve. He
FORgives. Christ walked on water and journeyed on to Calvary to take the
divine punishment we deserved. For all our failures, for all our doubts in
crisis, for all the times we have looked everywhere BUT to Him: Jesus died.
He did not ask, "why did you step out in the first place?" And
definitely not, "why should I bother with you?" He asks in past-tense:
"why DID you doubt?" And we answer with Peter, "because in our weak faith,
we lost focus on You, Lord. Save us."
Peter still had wet clothes and a soaked boat after Jesus stilled the
storm. But the important part was that Jesus Himself, the Son of God, was
in the same boat with Peter ~ and He is with us, too.
We will face consequences of earthly decisions and disasters. We may fair
far worse than soggy clothes & a soaked boat. And we will 'see the wind',
and to our shame take our eyes off Jesus. It is important to recall even
WITH our faith focused on Christ, we will not win every earthly battle or
Olympic gold medal. God's goal for His beloved children is not earthly
riches: rather, it is a heavenly treasure. God's goal is not that we focus
harder after each failure so we will give Him more glory (yuck) so He will
love us more! He can't love us any more than He does -- because of the
cross of Christ. Our trying harder to focus on Him is a fruit of faith, not
the cause of it. AND it is not our hand reaching out to Him that saves us,
but His hand that continues reaching out to us.
When we have been rowing against the wind for hours, when we have
dealing with the daily grind and falling behind, when sudden storms of life
threaten to swamp us and we are in a panic: then we need to listen for the
voice of our Savior saying, "Be comforted, it's Me. Stop fearing." In the
great strength of His love, we may ask to walk on water and even dance on
the waves if He allows us.
And when, not if, we fail: His ears are open to our prayers, and His
hand is near to rescue us. This is why we pray for Him to preserve us from
all harm and danger. So we may be ready in body and soul to cheerfully
accomplish whatever He wants done in His kingdom.
God works faith in us by means of His Word and Sacraments so that we
may live in the joy of His salvation. When we sink, He still rescues. Then
like the disciples in the boat, our response is to praise and worship Him
here in His (nave, or Latin for "boat") house, and eagerly tell others about
His compassion and rescue.
May we, as His people, believe with our heart and confess Him with our
lips and lives. Amen.
Pastor Michael Harman
St. Peter LCMS - Newell, IA 50568-0393
___________________________________________________________________________
'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise
noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such
gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_
_attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as
for quoting or use in a congregational setting
_with_or_without_attribution_.
Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list.
Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster.
Subscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Archive? <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/>
For more information on this or other lists offered by Confess And Teach
For Unity, you can contact the CAT 41 list administrator at:
Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
