Not Willing (or Saving a Boatload of People)

The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
Jonah 1:16 NLT

Somehow, I have overlooked the significance of this one verse every time I've read this story of Jonah. 

Most of us know about the story of Jonah. Have you ever wondered why a prophet of God could be so ticked off about being asked to go somewhere and proclaim God's message? How a prophet could be angry with God about the thought of repentance and salvation for an entire city? After all, isn't that his life's work? But Jonah was not willing.

However, before we become so quick to judge, think of the political blitzkrieg around us today. Let us think of the self-proclaimed cognoscenti we would most like to see silenced if we could make that happen. What would happen if God asked us to go witness to them? Would we be willing or would we wish them a special place in hell as we head in the opposite direction? 

And let's also witness the extraordinary love of God in action! We know He especially prepared a large fish to accommodate and assist Jonah onto the road of repentance in his rebellion against God. And in the process of creating the storm, caused a boatload of sailors to first fear Him and then to turn from their gods, and offer a sacrifice to our God while vowing to serve only Him... (even though at first they were not willing to throw Jonah overboard).

There was a lot of Not Willing going on, but the most important one is that God is not willing that ANY should perish, according to 2nd Peter 3:9, but that all should come to repentance. Even a boatload of sailors who were initially helping the rebellious prophet to escape.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You that You cause all things to work together for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose for our lives. Give us the wisdom, power, and strength to see and to do what You have ordained for us to accomplish. Give us willing hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Is There a Storm Brewing?

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Psalm 139:23-24

Why is it when our lives get busy, our time with the Lord is the first thing to go? Why is it that we believe the lie that our time with God is on a flex schedule - that it's optional in maintaining our faith? I've talked with so many people lately who all have said basically the same thing in one form or another. "My life is falling apart, and I just don't have enough time or energy to read my Bible" but they want to tell me about the latest episode of their favorite reality show, or how they got on Facebook last night and before they knew it, they'd been there for over 2 hours. "Oh, I'll catch up on Saturday." In between the laundry and the kids and the grocery store? Right...

"I've got to have my head on straight before I can spend any quality time with the Lord."  Let me give you a hint, satan will do his best to make sure our heads are never on straight. 

"Well, when my schedule calms down a little bit..." 
"When I get through soccer season (or softball or football or dance or...)" 
"Oh, I talk to God right before I go to sleep..." 

Do we even stay awake long enough to catch His reply?

Here in Texas, it gets really hot. And when it does, we have to water outside in order to not lose the good stuff. The weeds? They won't die out through drought or anything else. I have to deliberately kill them or pluck them out. And that can be difficult. Sometimes, though, a good storm will really help us out. It waters the good stuff and loosens the choke hold so the weeds can be easily pulled out and disposed of.

What's that got to do with spending time in the Word? Well, it's similar to when we're not cleansing our lives by the washing of the water by the Word, and we start to dry up. The good stuff is not getting watered and it will wither and die. However, just like in the natural realm, left unattended the garden of your soul will be taken over by the weeds that will eventually choke out the good stuff. Unless, of course, there's a storm...

Prayer:

Father,

         Whatever it takes to keep us close to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

When the Wind Stops - Reprint by Request

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

Matthew 14:24-32 NLT

This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Every time I read it, I am encouraged. Strengthened. I have heard it preached from many different viewpoints and they're all good. Can we recognize Jesus? Do we know Him when we are in trouble? Can we recognize God in the midst of the storms in our lives? Do we let the circumstances of our lives overwhelm us? Do we make snap decisions based on fear of our circumstances? Are we keeping our eyes on Jesus?

Some will give us that Peter DID walk on water, but they are quick to make the point that because he took His eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. And that's a great point. It is valid. It is true. However, it's not the whole story.

Let's review a little here. These were disciples in the boat, not your run-of-the-mill followers. It was the twelve. Hand-picked by Jesus. They weren't the ones who ran out to every event just to see what was going on. They weren't the fringe. They were all disciples. Disciples that had just witnessed the feeding of the 5,000 with a few loaves and fish, and gathered up left-overs... It was THOSE disciples who, at 3 in the morning, fighting heavy waves and a strong wind, who were - what was the word? Terrified. Am I judging them? Absolutely not, I'm just reviewing the facts.

You see, it was ONE of those twelve disciples - Simon/Peter. Did you know that the definition of the name Simon is hearing? Simon who Jesus called Peter. Peter which means rock. (I have to ask you - have you ever seen a rock float?) It was THIS Peter - Peter the fisherman who knew firsthand the danger of heavy waves and strong winds on the water. Peter the one we know for his blunders - that's who went over the side of the boat into the heavy waves and the strong wind.  We know he didn't sink the minute he went over the side because Scripture tells us he walked on the water toward Jesus. The point is Peter listened and he did the impossible because all things are possible through Christ. All things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23), but that's another topic for another day.

Truth - Peter walked on the water toward Jesus. Truth - When he took his eyes off Christ and looked at the circumstances, he began to sink. Truth - Peter cried out to Jesus and Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him and asked why Peter doubted Him. We don't know how far Peter walked. I think that's irrelevant or else God would have included it in His Word, but we know he got close enough that when he did begin to sink, Jesus reached out and grabbed him. It doesn't say Jesus ran to him to snatch him out of the water. It just says He reached out - and that's another topic for another day. Now, here's the part of the miracle that we miss. It doesn't say immediately they were back in the boat. It doesn't say Jesus tossed Peter into the boat or that Jesus carried him back to the boat. Here it is - don't miss it! Whatever distance Peter covered, they walked back because they CLIMBED back into the boat. AND according to Scripture, it was When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

AFTER the walking. AFTER the climbing. Was that easy? No, I don't believe so. Was it sure? Yes, absolutely! Jesus was there. And because He was, there was no question about whether or not they could walk back, or whether or not, they would climb back into the boat even though they were still in the heavy waves and strong wind.

We pray and we plead and we cry out and nothing seems to change and we wonder where God is. Too often, we believe the lie of satan that Jesus isn't there for us because our circumstances haven't changed. Can we see Him in the midst of our storm? Do we have the faith to step out in response to His bidding? Do we believe He will walk with us? Are we waiting for the wind to stop before we believe?

Prayer:

Father,

          Increase our faith, O God. Forgive us for not looking past our circumstances to see the Truth of Your Word - that You are ever with us, that You never leave us nor forsake us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Taken for Granted +

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NKJV

I hate getting up in the middle of the night without a light. I've whacked my foot against the furniture so many times, my little toe is in a permanent "tuck or duck" position! How about when the electricity goes off during a storm and we're groping around for a flashlight or candles? Why is it we always want light more so when we can't get it? Is it that we take it for granted until it's gone?

It is written in 1st John 1:6-7 NLT, So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.  With that, why would anyone choose to continue to walk in darkness when they can have the Light of Life? Why would anyone choose an eternity where they will be cast into outer darkness - where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth? (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30). 

Do we think we have forever to make the choice to follow Jesus? Do we take for granted His mercy and grace and patience?  Peter wrote,  But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

Prayer:

Father,
         We want to live in the light, as You are in the light. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to help others see and understand that if we follow You, our steps will be sure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.