Storm Warning: Storm Chasing — Friday
Matthew 14:33
And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (ESV)
My husband and I have the privilege of hosting a group of young adults in our house every week, and I love to cook for them. I think feeding people is one of my spiritual gifts!
I like to make things from scratch, but one week, I was pressed for time and decided to quickly make brownies from a boxed mix. I should be able to do this in my sleep, but they were terrible. I cooked them more than twice as long as recommended, but they remained a pan of goo. It turned into a joke with the group, and some of the guys even grabbed spoons and ate it anyway. I refused to be defeated by a brownie mix, so I bought another one, and a couple of weeks later, I tried again. This time when I baked them for the recommended time, they turned into bricks! Let’s just say I won’t be buying that brownie mix again!
This week, we have talked about looking for Jesus in the storms that will certainly come and stepping out in faith even when we don’t understand. But following Jesus by faith isn’t a checklist, and sometimes, even when we follow the directions, just like the brownies, things don’t turn out as expected. Just as Peter started to sink when he was on the water with Jesus, we will inevitably fall short again and again even in our best efforts.
When the Bible tells us we are saved by grace through faith, it isn’t talking about faith in ourselves to stay strong and never doubt. Once we surrender our lives to Jesus, we should gradually look more and more like Him as we grow in faith and obedience, and as HE DOES THE WORK to sanctify us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our faith has to be in Jesus, not in our ability to have faith. It’s faith that Jesus is perfect when we are not. Faith that Jesus knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see. Faith that Jesus is strong when we are weak. Faith that Jesus will catch us when we fall. Faith that Jesus will take our hand and pull us up out of the water and back into the safety of the boat.
Friday’s Reflection
When we see Jesus for who He really is, it will cause us to worship Him as the Son of God. Spend some time worshiping God today.