Current Sermon

Sermon, March 26, 2023

Matthew  14: 22-33 

Can God calm a stormy sea?  Yes, God certainly can. However, I don’t think that’s what this story is about.  Remember, the Bible is not a history lesson or a compilation of facts. Rather, the Bible is a library of spiritual, moral, ethical lessons that enhance and enrich our personal lives.   We are not to read a Bible story and ask, “is it true?” “Is it factual?”  Those are history questions.  Instead, we read a story and ask in what ways can this story or lesson add meaning and grace to my life?  How does this story or lesson make me a more caring, loving person?  Those are spiritual questions.  Those are the questions we should ask as we read scripture.   

Having said that, how does the story we read today add meaning and grace to your life? 

One way is to acknowledge you migt be  a bit like Peter. Impetuous.  You want to trust but you worry about the problem instead of trusting God.  You may pray about the problem at hand but you don’t really think God has time for your mundane existence so you try to solve the problem yourself.  You might keep on praying that God will intervene instead of thanking him for the solution that already exists.  When you, like Peter, take your eyes off of the available Christ Spirit for guidance and look only at the problem, then you sink, you fail.  While you are flailing around in the midst of the storm of your problem, Jesus is walking on top of the problem, waiting for you to take his hand and solve it together. This story is literary allegory at its best, and one of the most profound spiritual lessons of all time.  For every problem a human faces there is a divine solution.  When you seek Godly answers, God responds. 

Regarding today’s story, would you prefer your God through Christ to be a magician or a Spiritual Entity who uses ordinary people to do extra ordinary things? 

In a subtle way, today’s story is asking you that question:  Is Jesus a magician walking on top of the waves on a stormy night, or is he a holy man who has something amazing to teach us?  How you answer that question may determine the very basis of your faith and your existence. 

Today’s story brings to the forefront of our thinking the question of trust.  We have assurance through scripture and life experiences that God is a God of grace we are to trust with our wants, our needs, our possessions, our actions...in effect, our entire lives, moment by moment.  Yes, things may happen that disappoint us, devastate us, confuse or hurt us, but we are never alone.  We do not have to face hardships on our own, because we have access to God’s power and goodness always and in all ways.  We as believers know the truth.  The truth.  The Truth is that the ever present Godly, Christ spirit loves, cherishes, and guides each one of us.  He is near at hand, he is within our minds and hearts, he can be, if we choose, to be in our hands, our decisions, and our solutions to every challenge.   

My question to you this morning is:  What will turn your life into a blissful existence of faith and trust, with less worry and more joy, no matter what is happening outside of you? 

I think the answer to that question is to make trust in the grace of God, the goodness shown through Jesus, an action.  Not a thought.  Not a belief.  Not a dogma nor an ism, but an action.  Do live with God as your motivator, your protector, your main adviser.  When you face a challenge, a problem, or a difficult situation, state aloud your problem;  be specific.  Then focus your mind and actions on the universal majesty of God’s holiness for your solution.  Thank God as you seek the divine solution together.  You are partners with God.  He reaches out to you with his wisdom, his love, his encouragement...then you must depend on God’s grace and wisdom as if your life depends on it, because it does. 

We often base our lives on our own wants, needs, and limitations rather than on the worthy God who created you.  Without trust in God’s abundant care and love, then a peaceful, joyful life can become impossible. 

But, if you choose trust rather than fear, then act on that trust.  You would not exist if God had not called you to life.  God is older and wiser than you are.  God is more creative and powerful than you.  God is certainly more loving and patient than you.  So be wise enough to trust those traits that are available to you 24/7.   

When a stormy sea begins to sink you, climb out of the boat and swim toward the divine solution.  If you choose not to trust God and Godly wisdom, what do you lose? 

You lose your life. 

However, if you choose to listen to and act on Godly wisdom then whatever the outcome of your problem or challenge is, then that is exactly what needed to happen in your life.  You can trust, fully trust, and stake your life on the outcome, because it is God’s offering to you.  It may not be what you hoped for, but in the long-run you will realize it was best for you. 

That can be the hard part of the Christ-filled life.  We want to be in control always, but when we trust, when we have faith that God is always on our side, then whatever happens is what needs to happen.  We can have peace in any situation, if we trust God and God’s wisdom. 

Amen