hard, easy, small, big…

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. And the king of Aram said, “Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.” He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.” But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:1-14, NRSV)

How many of us think that when we do things for God it has to be hard and big?

We can’t do easy small things, that is just not what God wants us to do…

We have to do important big things. But who knew the feeding of the 5000 actually happened the way it happened when it happened? Most of the people in the crowd had no clue. They were just happy to have food… The little thing of the person handing them a fish and bread was more to them than the big feeding…

And we see today that God has us do the easy things to bring us to Him…

So don’t discount the impact you have. Do everything you do for the glory of God!

a test…

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:21-28, NRSV)

Jesus really called this woman a dog!

It was a term used by Jewish people to describe the Canaanites, and no it was not a term of endearment.

However, Jesus does use a different form of dog than most Jews would have. The dog they usually described the Canaanites as were wild scavengers, the dog Jesus uses, is a little dog, or a household pet.

The woman knows though that she has no claim to Jesus but through His mercy, and calls upon the extended blessings to the Gentiles promised through Abraham, a test that Jesus gave her, and she had the faith of knowing the promises…

Would we pass the test if Jesus called us a dog?

Do you know the promises God has made to and for you?

It is a test we all can hope to pass…

saved!

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of perdition assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering around him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him there broke through his clouds hailstones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice. And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He reached down from on high, he took me; he drew me out of mighty waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:1-19, NRSV)

The Lord is my refuge and my strength.

He is my protection in this life.

In Him I am saved. Not because I have done anything, but He is protecting me from the world around. Much like a castle in the water, He is my protection. He keeps me safe.

He protects me not only from the evils of this world but also from the rising waters! He comes to my rescue and delivers me in my time of need…

Through Him we are saved!

impossible

Now the company of prophets said to Elisha, “As you see, the place where we live under your charge is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, and let us collect logs there, one for each of us, and build a place there for us to live.” He answered, “Do so.” Then one of them said, “Please come with your servants.” And he answered, “I will.” So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling a log, his ax head fell into the water; he cried out, “Alas, master! It was borrowed.” Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick, and threw it in there, and made the iron float. (2 Kings 6:1-6, NRSV)

Is it possible for metal to float?

I have never seen metal float, so does that mean this didn’t happen?

No and just because something is impossible does not mean that God can not do it.

You see nothing is impossible for God or for those who follow God.

If we believe that He is with us and will give us what we need, then nothing is impossible.

See us through

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons entered the ark, they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind—every bird, every winged creature. They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in. The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings; everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, human beings and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred fifty days. But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters gradually receded from the earth. At the end of one hundred fifty days the waters had abated; and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared. (Genesis 7:11-8:5, NSRV)

The rain came and flooded the Earth…

And Noah and his wife, and their 3 sons and their wives, along with every animal on the earth was safe in the ark… And God saved them from the flood…

God was faithful to the 8 and the creatures as He destroyed those who did not follow Him. Because the flood waters could have lasted forever, but God remembered them and blew a wind to have the waters recede…

As God saw Noah and his family through to dry land after the flood, He will be with you!

marveled

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?” (Matthew 8:23-27, NRSV)

Jesus was asleep. That should have been enough for the disciples, right?

I mean if Jesus isn’t worried about the storm and is sleeping then it is probably nothing for the disciples to worry about…

And were they really perishing? They thought they were…

And when Jesus calmed the storm, they marveled at what had happened…

They were amazed our reading says.

But if we can trust Jesus, we won’t need to wake Him, or worry. Even in the storms He will calm us and be with us to see us through.

And to me that is the biggest marvel of all.

Even knowing who I really am, He still is with me, and walks through the storms of my life, even the ones I cause, to see me safely through.

trust

trustSome went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters; they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity; they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. (Psalm 107:23-32, NRSV)

Have you ever had to do something that set fear deep into your heart?

Have you ever started something and then in the middle of it, the storm rolled in and it got troubled really quick?

Our courage seems to fly out the window when the trouble hits. The storm roles in and our faith in our abilities fades away…

And that is not a bad thing…

Really? faith in ourselves fading away is not bad?

No, because if we have faith in ourselves we will surely let us down, but if our faith is in the one who can calm the storm, even as it rages around us, then we will never fail!

Our trust can not be in our faith, but must be in God.

Trust in the one who will never allow the storms of life to overtake you, but always walk with you through the tempest and see us safely through.

where were you?

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb?—when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped’? (Job 38:1-11, NRSV)

This passage reminds me of the Todd Agnew song Where were you? 

In the song Todd talks about how he takes all of his questions and lays them at the feet of God, and in response God asks him, “Where were you, when I created all of this?”

Sounds a little harsh at first, but then if you stop and think about it, really how can we think we understand the ways of God and how all of this plays together for the good of all? Our minds can hardly figure out a puzzle sometimes, but God created everything and knit the universe together!

Sometimes we just have to step out in faith and know that He has it all under control, even when we don’t get.

enough…

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33, NRSV)

Little Faith…

It seems this is a phrase we hear over and over again from the text of the Bible. But in actuality it only occurs 6 times in the New Testament. 5 times in Matthew and once in Luke. Each time it refers to the disciples, and in today’s reading it specifically refers to one disciple…

All of the parallel passages from Mark have the disciples with “no faith”, Matthew seems to look with a little more favor on the disciples and say they have a little faith…

But a little is enough.

You see each time Jesus says “You of little faith…” He never tells them He will give them more, or advise them on how to get more…

You see the faith they (and you) have is enough. Jesus is excited when we ask Him to allow us to do things that take big faith, like stepping out of the boat. And He calls us to Him, but the thing we need to remember is we can’t do it on our own. We need Him with us.

And He will be, as He told the disciples, “Take heart, I am, do not fear!” Believe I am God and do not fear, because I am always with you.

And later to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you hesitate?” I am here in front of you, look at me, and what we have together is enough!

provide

Even though he struck the rock so that water gushed out and torrents overflowed, can he also give bread, or provide meat for his people?” Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of rage; a fire was kindled against Jacob, his anger mounted against Israel, because they had no faith in God, and did not trust his saving power. Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven. Mortals ate of the bread of angels; he sent them food in abundance. He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind; he rained flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas; he let them fall within their camp, all around their dwellings. And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved. (Psalm 78:20-29, NRSV)

If we have faith in God God will provide for us.

That is what the picture says, and that is what some of us have been led to believe.

It is the verse, “God helps those who help themselves.” That is found in the book of Hezekiah 3… No really it is not in the Bible. God never said He would help those who help themselves, and He never said His provision was contingent on our faith.

Here in this Psalm it shows that while God was angry at His people for their lack of faith, He still provided the bread the angels eat and meat for them to fill themselves.

So keep the faith that regardless of how much faith you have God will be with you and help you with your every need.