Mistaken Notions about Faith - Updated

Mistaken notion's about faith.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is Peter's encounter with Jesus walking on the water.  (Matthew 14:22-33)

One of the reasons this story intrigues me is because of what I believe are “mistaken notion's about faith”.  In the story while Peter is walking out to Jesus on the water he begins to sink and he cries out to Jesus to save him, Jesus reaches out, takes him by the hand and says to him "oh ye of little faith". Please note, this is all happening while Peter and Jesus are standing on the water! Jesus will use this phrase quite often with his closest disciples, these disciples who are respected because of their courageous faith. I know that many interpret this story to mean that Peter’s faith failed in this moment of walking on the water. But, I don't think that's what was happening at all. I think Peter was just being human! He can't walk on water! J But on this occasion he did the impossible because Jesus had invited him out to where Jesus was, walking on the water. I believe a better understanding is that Jesus was developing and growing Peter’s faith. Jesus was strengthening his faith and preparing Peter to accept The Lord’s invitation into an even more difficult and painful task.

I believe Jesus was saying to Peter (and maybe even us) that if I ever invite you out to where I am, no matter how impossible the task may seem, please don't ever doubt Me. I'll be there for you, just like I was tonight.

Where is got inviting you to walk? Can I encourage you and your faith with knowing that wherever it is, God will be there for you. 

Detours and Roads under construction - Summer 2018

“Detours and Roads under construction”

Making sense of life…

It seems the summer is a great time to do road repairs on our highways! Have you noticed? I sure have experienced a lot of that this summer. How about you? You have well laid out plans (Thanks to Google maps!) and you begin your trip and before you know it, you get stopped and there’s the sign – “road under construction”. J In life, there are detours, flat tires, and disappointments. Sometimes things just do not work out the way that you planned. How do you make sense of life when life does not make sense? I have found in life that it’s a short step from disappointment to God’s ultimate destiny for us. This could be the biggest disappointment in your life, or it could be God directing you to His destiny for you! God’s Word teaches over and over that we will be blessed by waiting on the Lord. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him and do not fret…” (Psalms 37:7)  Do you see this?! “Wait, be still and do not fret!” When roadblocks and detours come my way that’s the last thing I am prone to do! Psalms 37 has been “God’s roadmap” for me for a long time. Maybe God can use it in your life to help you navigate “the roads under construction” you are going through.

           

Henry Blackeby wrote years ago, “never come to the final conclusion on anything that is happening in your life until to you consider it from God’s point of view.” Here is the key element needed in navigating “detours” in life.  “Trust in the Lord…” (Psalm 37:3) “Trust the Lord, do good, dwell in the land, enjoy safe pasture”(Ps. 37:3) It all begins with trusting Him.   No matter what you are walking through, let Him make sense of life even if it does not make sense right now.  Trust Him, wait on Him… He promises to make your paths straight and clear. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Maybe this detour or roadblock is God’s “safe pasture” for you. Consider it from God’s perspective.

Sometimes we need others to help us see life more clearly and find hope. That’s why its important to come worship with a local congregation. Worship is a great way to turn our attention to the Lord and see things anew. God’s plan is not for you to travel alone. It helps to walk through life with others. Let me encourage you to find others to walk with you. God bless us as make sense of life... in spite of road blocks and detours.

Mistaken notion's about faith.

Mistaken notion's about faith.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Peter's encounter with Jesus walking on the water. 

One of the reasons this story intrigues me so, is because of what I believe are mistaken notion's about faith.
In the story when Peter begins to sink after he walks on the water and he cries out to Jesus to save him, Jesus reaches out, takes him by the hand and says to him "oh ye of little faith". Note by the way, this is all happening with Peter and Jesus standing on the water. :)  If you read the Bible carefully you will see that Jesus says this quite often. In most religious circles I know this is interpreted to mean that Peters Faith had Failed.
You see, I don't think that's what was happening at all. I think Peter was just being human. He can't walk on water! 🙄 😀 But on this occasion he did because Jesus had invited him out to where Jesus was. You see Jesus was going to invite Peter into an even more difficult and painful task. I believe Jesus was preparing Peter and strengthening his faith.

My interpretation of what Jesus was saying to Peter that night on the water was this. Peter if I ever invite you out to where I am, no matter how impossible the task may seem, don't ever doubt Me. I'll be there for you, like I was tonight.
Where is got inviting you to walk? Can I encourage you and your faith with knowing that wherever it is, God will be there for you.