Skip to main content

Little Faith

             He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:26)

This passage came to mind as I was getting out of bed yesterday morning. My first reaction was that the point was that faith isn’t a feeling. One can choose to do it.  The problem is that we often make our choices out of habit, based on feelings, without conscious awareness that we’re making a choice. That’s where the disciples were: in the boat, in the storm, and following generations of scientific evidence that in a boat, in a storm, on a lake equals bad outcomes.

If someone had said, “Wait, guys, Jesus is the Messiah.” They might have agreed, but just because Jesus would survive doesn’t mean they would. Follow the science. It’s accurate, except for one pesky little detail. God’s love. I’m not suggesting that God never lets those He loves die in boats on lakes in storms. But when our faith disappears, our belief that God loves us also disappears. We may say “Thy will be done” but then we duck and cover.

In John Ortberg’s podcast today, he spoke of Dallas Willard’s practice. He had an attitude that was effectively, “let’s try it and see how God responds.” So here is the challenge. First, to remind ourselves that God loves us and to step out on that love. That won’t mean we’ll get what we want, but we react out of the ideas we’ve learned to react out of. So what would change if we told ourselves that God love us instead of what we usually tell ourselves?  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more