Continuing in Matthew 14
Every time I read, hear or see something new concerning God, there is usually an opportunity to practice what I learn. After all, who wants to spend time learning things that you will never use (Beep Beep If you attend church with me you will get it, if not message me and I will fill you in). The disciples had witnessed Jesus process grief, show compassion, heal the sick, and feed a lot of hungry people with seemingly impossible means. Jesus then sends the disciples away in a boat as He dismisses the crowds and goes to spend time in prayer. You would think that this is enough to pack into one day, but it is far from over. What follows is a practice session.
There is a saying that practice makes perfect but that isn’t exactly true. We can practice the wrong way and we never improve and end up with bad habits that will have to be overcome. So what we should say is, perfect practice makes perfect. When I went to the paddle board store I learned how to practice perfect so that I could be successful. If I had been given instruction and no opportunity to practice, the instruction would have all been in vain. I needed to know if I understood what I was taught and if I could actually carry out the instruction. All twelve men, all disciples of Jesus, all processed the same events of the day and they are about to have their opportunity to practice what they learned.
Picture this: Twelve disciples of Jesus a long distance from the shore in a boat (they did leave the shore so we will give them points) with high winds causing waves to beat and batter their boat, when all of a sudden they spied something. What they see is something strange, something totally beyond ordinary and they give it their full attention. This figure appears to be advancing toward them. Whatever it was appeared to be on top of the water. Can you picture it? Ok, now remember where they just were, all the things they had just learned and in whose presence they were in. So at this point, what do they do? How could they practice what they just learned?
To make this a little bit more personal, because we all know it is easier to tell someone else how they could or should handle a situation, right? Let’s take whatever situation we are currently facing, equipped with what we have seen, heard, and learned from Jesus, and apply it to our situation? Is that what we are doing? Or, are we in reality much more like the disciples who……
When faced with an unknown they let FEAR grip them. A boat load of fear is never good. Fear is almost always accompanied by an out of control imagination. Such was the case here. Was this a ghost? What was this? Who or what can walk on water? Right at the moment of execution of all that they had witnessed their minds went running back to a pre-Jesus state of mind and they caved to fear.
How quick we fail to remember to “fear not” and instead “end up in a boat load of fear.” When we fail to remember, we quickly forget. We too, often have the same concerns: I have never seen anything like this. Maybe this is just my imagination. Surely Jesus can’t be in this. I am not the sort that Jesus shows Himself too. No, Jesus would never be here. It is at this precise moment that often we run. We are so comfortable, that when something feels the least bit uncomfortable, we are gripped by fear and often our response to fear is to run or withdraw. We don’t wait around to listen and watch for a confirmation. Can you name a time when fear served you well? Would you have been a lot better off perfectly practicing “Fear Not?”
Twelve stayed fixed in their focus. No running, no rowing faster in the opposite direction. Fixed on the figure they wait in the grip of fear. There seemed to be no escape. Often we are put in those hard places where we have to “face up” rather than flee. What would they do at this point; walk on water? Jesus sensing their fear, accompanied by doubt and confusion speaks,
“It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
For those who run, they miss this important statement. They leave without the gifts that Jesus longs to bring in this moment: Himself, courage, miracles, signs and wonders, a relationship with one that knows us better than we know ourselves to name but a few. They run clinching their fear and separation from Jesus. They leave untouched and unchanged.
How often has Jesus approached you and instead of leaning in, you pulled back untouched and unchanged? All the pulling back has left you living in sameness. Our sameness gets heavier and heavier over time. Jesus has an answer for you:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Did you get that? You don’t have to fear you can rest. There is no time for a pre-Jesus mentality. Practice perfectly the truth of what you learned from your heavenly Father. It is time to ReSet.
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