Still Work To Be Done

Matthew 8:18-27

The story it a familiar one. Jesus is asleep in the boat as a storm rages all around. The disciples, fearful of drowning, waken him and point out the danger. “Then (Jesus) got up,” Matthew tells us, “and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm” (Matthew 8:26c). The disciples were amazed, Matthew continues, and wondered what sort of man Jesus was.

And then they started rowing. They had to. Jesus’ actions has brought the sea to a “dead calm.” That would mean no wind, which would also mean no sailing. So if the disciples were to get anywhere at that point they were going to have to put their backs into it.

God’s actions in human history often require more than a little follow-up work on the part of God’s people. Moses understand this. In the Exodus the people were led out of Egypt by God’s power but years of effort followed. Pentecost is another good example. The Spirit arrived with the sound of a mighty wind and as divided tongues of flame and the disciples went tumbling into the street. But there was work to be done if the faith was to spread: witnessing to others, building a community, withstanding persecution. To feel blessed by God, to see miracles abound, to find ourselves nurtured and sustained by divine grace is never the end of the story. God calms the storms of our lives. Then it is up to us to put our backs into it.

Prayer: Lord, you bless us in so many ways. Help us to respond with all our strength to the opportunities you give us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Oops!

Hosea 4:11-19
Acts 21:37-22:16
Luke 6:12-26
I had finished writing my thoughts on today’s readings—a rather longer than usual entry—when my computer died. While I did not lose all of what I had written, I lost enough of it to take the time to reconsider it. Here is what I have learned this morning.

Thank goodness the word of God does not depend on people like me remembering to save their work on their computers. The prophet Hosea, the apostle Paul, and Jesus himself remain conversant with us today in part because, by God’s grace, their words have been preserved. That’s a profound reality. Over the centuries writers have come and gone, words have risen in importance and then fallen into obscurity, what some consider to be true has been surpassed by new understanding. But through it all, the word of God has remained available to us.

In my family Psalm 121 is of special importance. Generations of Freemans have read or recited it’s words before undertaking a journey. Many find comfort from Psalm 23, John 3:16, Micah 6:6-8, 1 Peter 2:10, and so forth. And while of our readings today only Luke’s may be particularly memorable, each represents God’s active participation in human life whatever the circumstances. If God was at work in Hosea, Micah, the psalmist, Jesus, Paul, and John, and if we have those words available to us today, then God remains at work now as well, the Holy Spirit reaching out to us from the pages of scripture.

My computer may have run out of battery power and I may have forgotten to save my document, but God transcends the feebleness of human language and human activity with everlasting love and truth. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Almighty God, help us to trust in your word for guidance this day and always. Amen.