Straining at the oars

Mark 6:45-52

What word of instruction do you hear?
Get into the boat. Jesus had just fed 5,000 men (and untold women and children) with just five loaves of bread and two fish. A miracle had occurred, and, despite the meager supplies, all ate and were filled. Everyone had all they needed. In fact, they had more than enough! After everyone had eaten, they took up 12 baskets full of leftovers. God had provided much more than they needed. But none of it would be wasted. It had to have been a powerful moment. I can only imagine how the disciples might have felt. Triumphant. Victorious. Confused.

They certainly seem to have felt content. They wanted to stay where they were. It was a good place. They had done a really good job. Things were going well. So let's just stay put.

But Jesus tells them to get into the boat. In fact, scripture says that Jesus made his followers get into the boat. He made them get into the boat and head out onto the lake without him. He made them go ahead. He stayed behind to pray.

It's tempting, isn't it? To stay put. To stay where we feel safe, successful, and well cared for. To stay where we have been nurtured and fed and blessed. I mean, what person in their right mind would want to leave a place of rest and abundance and security and head out into the unknown, where danger lurked, and high winds threaten to overturn your boat?

But Jesus tells us to go. Get into the boat. We've been fed. We've been blessed. We have witnessed the awesome power of God. That's great! But now it's time to go. Get in the boat. There's more for us to see and do and learn.

For what do you want to give thanks?
Jesus is with us in the boat. Jesus sees us when we are straining at the oars against an adverse wind. Jesus sees our struggles. He knows how hard it is. And he doesn't let us sink. He comes to us. He walks out to us. Above the struggles. Above the waves. Above all that threatens us and above all that frightens us and above all that seeks to wear us down. Jesus comes and will go ahead of us, and, if we call out to him, he will get right in the boat with us.

How have I missed the mark?
Sometimes, I get so busy, straining at the oars, that I fail to Jesus, out on the water, coming to rescue me. So I keep straining at the oars, trying to do it all by myself.

How is God present in this text?
God is the one who provides food for the journey, and God is the one who tells me to get into the boat, and God is the one who calms the storm that rages in my heart and in my world.

"I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.
But the master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Love lifted me. Love lifted me.
When nothing else could help, love lifted me."
-- words by James Rowe

Worship that honors God

Isaiah 58 (Today's focus is on verses 6-9, but you will need to read the whole chapter to understand the context.)

What word of instruction do you hear?
The sabbath is a day to pursue God's interests, not my own.

Sometimes, we act as if we have done the Lord such a great favor by showing up for church on Sundays (or Saturdays or Thursdays or whenever). You even see this reflected in some of the contemporary worship songs (much as I love contemporary worship). "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God." Sometimes, you've got to wonder if the focus is on the glory of God and God's awesome power and righteousness, which all DESERVE to be praised. Or on God's very good fortune that we have chosen to bow ourselves before the Lord.... (I hope you hear the sarcasm.)

But it's not about the type of music that's used in worship. It's about the heart. Our motivation. Why do we worship? Out of guilt? Out of fear? Out of habit? Out of a sense of obligation? Out of our own need? To impress others with our holiness?

Worship that honors God is about putting God first. Putting God's interests before my own. Doing what God wants done. For no other reason that because God is God. God is good. God is great! And God deserves our praise and gratitude and devotion.

For what would you like to give thanks?
For all the faithful ones who have pursued God's interests and not their own.

How have you missed the mark?
Being critical when the sermon does not speak to me, the music does not move me, or the worship does not lift me up. Help me to remember, Lord, that it's not about me. It's about you.

How is God present to you in this text?
God is the voice of discipline, of prophetic exhortation. It is God who seeks to lead me in right paths. And God is there with an answer when I seek to do what's right and call on God for help.

Drink up

John 4:7-15

What word of instruction do I hear?
Drink. Jesus offers us a gift. Water. Water for the thirsty soul. Water that quenches the deep longing of the heart. A longing for God. A longing we all have. A need within each and every human being. Each of us needs God. We crave God. Without God, we die. Without God, we cannot survive. God is as essential to life as water.

Somewhere inside we all know that we need something. Our lives are empty and meaningless without God. Sometimes we can admit that to ourselves. But, often, we ignore the craving. Maybe we think we can quench that thirst ourselves. We're smart. We're strong. We can figure out some alternative for water.

So we deny ourselves the one thing that can quench our thirst. Maybe we try to bury the feeling under a ton of work, food, activity, good deeds, good times, friends, liquor, drugs, sex.... We hide behind anything that will cover up the deep emptiness of our lives, even for a moment.

But we can't live without water, and we cannot live without God. So, eventually, the craving returns. And it will stay with us throughout our lives. Our need for God is just that strong. It cannot be denied forever. So we have a choice. We can try to bury our craving for God. We can try to ignore it or find a reasonable substitute. We can torture ourselves with our own stubborn refusal to accept what we so desperately need. Or we can drink.

For what would I like to give thanks?
That God is not hemmed in by our prejudices. Jews and Samaritans may choose not to associate with one another. Blacks and whites may choose not to associate with one another. UT and UK fans may choose not to associate with one another. But Jesus doesn't play by those rules. He doesn't withhold love. He doesn't withhold water. He doesn't withhold eternal life from anyone.

How have I missed the mark?
Like the Samaritan woman, I can find lots of objections to the activity of God in my life. I can see the obstacles. (How can you draw water if you don't have a bucket?) And I am not open to receive the gift that Jesus offers.

How is God present?
God comes to us wherever we are, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, and offers us the very thing that we need to truly live.

Thank you, God, for providing all that I need, when I need it. Help me learn to rely more on you and less on my own strength and wisdom. Amen.