Rocky boats and divine providence
I learned another thing about preaching this week. Not only does the one giving the sermon seem to be deeply affected by the topic, but so do those that hear it. This can be both an incredible and grace giving experience, or a completely overwhelming spiritual disaster.  Perhaps the latter was dramatic, but you get the point. In any case, I got a call this morning from one member of our community and I could hear panic in her voice. For her, her health is her rocky boat. I have heard from others about how their husbands, families, school, jobs or busy schedules have been their rocky boats lately. I shared on Sunday how my rocky boat has been my sadness and helplessness over what my friend from another church is having to go through, and how it affects several youth I love.
I think it is incredible how a sermon can take on such a life. I think it is wonderful to see how God is speaking through it and at a time when it is needed. I can remember as a kid feeling like my pastor was speaking directly to me many weeks. In fact, it was the words of a Pastor on a week of rebellion that led to my signing up for a youth trip that changed my life and led me to accept Christ. It wasn’t until many years later that I let that Pastor know about the impact of his message and he had no idea. He wasn’t even speaking about the youth trip or anything else that would have necessarily caused my heart to be moved in that way, but God used his words to change my heart and move me.
The thing is, maybe this isn’t just the case with sermons, but with what each of us say and focus on. If we give our attention to a verse or chapter of the Bible, shouldn’t it have the same affect? Yes, it does. When I am diligent in my personal Bible study and prayer time, I find that it comes alive in my life. I wish knowing that would keep me from failing to give adequate time to these areas of my life. This week was a reminder for me about just how important daily and constant devotions are. If we stay focused on what it is about and what God is trying to share through reading His word and talking to Him and others who are Christ-centered, I think we all might be in okay shape:)
Does that mean that we shouldn’t talk to those who are not Christ-centered (Christians and non-Christians both can fall into this category)? I hope not, I hope your faith will embrace such people. This goes back to Jesus and the disciples, even though they stumbled and had hearts of disbelief, he loved and walked with them.
What would a life of constant devotion look like? Does this mean we should cut out the source that rocks our boat? My prayer is that you will let God lead you to an answer these and other questions that I know I wrestle with and I suspect others do too.
My prayers go out to you on your rocky boat, my prayers are that you can see Him walking on the water to you and that you will let Him join you in your boat. My prayers is that we can all trust and have faith.
