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

Cut to the heart

Acts 2:37-42

What word of instruction do I hear?
What is it that cut the crowd to the heart? I had to look back to earlier verses to see. It was the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon a crowd of people who had gathered together in one place. People from every nation were filled with the Spirit and began to speak in other languages about the power of God. Now, some people in the city heard the talk and wondered what it all meant. Others made fun and said, "Oh, they're just drunk."

So Peter stood up and explained. "God sent Jesus to save you from the evil powers of the world, and you handed him over to be killed. But God raised Jesus from the dead. Death does not have the power to hold Jesus prisoner. We are witnesses. We know it's true. We saw Jesus after God raised him from the dead. You can know this for sure: God made Jesus both Lord and Messiah. And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

What Peter said was true. He told the truth about what the crowd had done. And he told the truth about what God had done. And the truth cut people to the heart.

For what would I like to give thanks?
For friends and family and pastors and teachers who care enough to tell me the truth. Lovingly. With the hope of redemption and transformation.

How have I missed the mark?
When, I wonder, was the last time that the word of God cut me to the heart...? How open am I to the truth?

How is God present in this text?
Through the Holy Spirit, which gives ordinary people the wisdom and ability and courage to speak the truth. God is also presented here as the Lord who calls us to him. God wants us to come near. God wants us to be saved.

Thank you, O Lord, for reaching out to rescue me. Not just once, but all the time. Reaching out, calling me to come closer. Thank you for making room for me. And for paving the way for me. Thank you for not giving up on me.