It’s so easy to have faith when the seas are calm, and the wind is peaceful and pleasant. These are the wonderful times of life. No problems. Or at least most are pretty manageable and in our control. But when we lose control of life circumstances, the storms blow our faith away like feathers in a hurricane. On the contrary, if we have trust in Jesus, this trust can blow the wind and the waves from our mind as we focus on the grace and power of God. After all, faith sees what cannot be seen.
Something Luther pointed out was how Jesus helped calm the storm, but then what did he ask of us? Did he command obedience to his teachings? Did he command that we ‘go and sin no more?’ Did he expect anything in return? No. He helps, not because he wants more from us, but because love helps without expectation of reward. He helps so that his heavenly Father will be praised and glorified.
Luther also connected the storm to the world that opposes Christendom. By world, Luther included certain people within the church. He said the world tolerates all kinds of preaching except the preaching of Christ as the way of salvation. People add requirements to salvation that go above Christ. When Christ alone is preached, he said it should be a consolation to preachers if they suffer persecution. It’s even a good sign if the persecution comes from the great, saintly, the learned, and the wise.
At least the disciples believed in Jesus enough to run to him for help, even though they didn’t have a clue how he would be able to help them. They’d never seen him calm a storm before. They wouldn’t have woken him if they didn’t think he could help in some way. Luther thinks that God/Jesus appears to sleep so we can learn how to trust, not in handling the situation ourself, but in God. Faith grows through struggle.
A final point here, and I’m not sure how Luther tied it in with this story, but he said “The Word has no master or judge or protector besides God, the author. God doesn’t ask the counsel of men to administer and defend his Word. He will defend/protect it himself.” Maybe this is part of the storm we face today in the church. So many men, defending God’s Word. Like they think God can’t do it for himself. O ye of little faith.
Blessings - PWM
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Matthew 8:23-27 Faith in the midst of storms
It’s so easy to have faith when the seas are calm, and the wind is peaceful and pleasant. These are the wonderful times of life. No problems. Or at least most are pretty manageable and in our control. But when we lose control of life circumstances, the storms blow our faith away like feathers in a hurricane. On the contrary, if we have trust in Jesus, this trust can blow the wind and the waves from our mind as we focus on the grace and power of God. After all, faith sees what cannot be seen.
Something Luther pointed out was how Jesus helped calm the storm, but then what did he ask of us? Did he command obedience to his teachings? Did he command that we ‘go and sin no more?’ Did he expect anything in return? No. He helps, not because he wants more from us, but because love helps without expectation of reward. He helps so that his heavenly Father will be praised and glorified.
Luther also connected the storm to the world that opposes Christendom. By world, Luther included certain people within the church. He said the world tolerates all kinds of preaching except the preaching of Christ as the way of salvation. People add requirements to salvation that go above Christ. When Christ alone is preached, he said it should be a consolation to preachers if they suffer persecution. It’s even a good sign if the persecution comes from the great, saintly, the learned, and the wise.
At least the disciples believed in Jesus enough to run to him for help, even though they didn’t have a clue how he would be able to help them. They’d never seen him calm a storm before. They wouldn’t have woken him if they didn’t think he could help in some way. Luther thinks that God/Jesus appears to sleep so we can learn how to trust, not in handling the situation ourself, but in God. Faith grows through struggle.
A final point here, and I’m not sure how Luther tied it in with this story, but he said “The Word has no master or judge or protector besides God, the author. God doesn’t ask the counsel of men to administer and defend his Word. He will defend/protect it himself.” Maybe this is part of the storm we face today in the church. So many men, defending God’s Word. Like they think God can’t do it for himself. O ye of little faith.
Blessings - PWM
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