Posted on March 6, 2022 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
All Access: Surface Tension (Walking On Water)
By Molly Fisher
I am one of those people who over-think pretty much everything. I really like to be sure, and prefer to be right, before doing just about anything. I could stand to learn a little bit from Peter, and his courage, or at least willingness to jump right in, ready or not. Before over-thinking can even kick in, or a thought about what anyone else was doing, he’s out of the boat. He’s asking to join Jesus, “tell me to come to you.” His confidence in Jesus and excitement to join Jesus doing something amazing, put his focus on the only thing that matters. When his focus is on Jesus, he asks Jesus to include him, and Jesus does. The storm was raging, and the waves were dangerously high when Peter sees Jesus. The storm was raging when Peter asks to join Jesus, and the storm was raging when he got out of the boat. Not until he’s fully outside the boat, and walking on water, do the waves become a distraction, taking his focus off Jesus.
The thing is, I really love learning, trying new things, going new places, and pushing myself. I would have wanted to walk on the water, but given myself whiplash by looking at Jesus, the waves, the boat, Jesus, the waves . . . I would have tested the water with one foot first, with a tight grip on the boat, even if it hadn’t been in the middle of storm. I literally and metaphorically test the water before jumping in, even though I know how much can be learned from falling short and pushing through the tension to overcome a challenge. I’m a teacher, so I am constantly reminding students that the learning happens when you figure out what you don’t know. Yet too often I begin to sink even before I try to walk; I fail to trust Jesus because the waves and the storm get my attention.
Jesus is out there, in the midst of the chaos, waiting for me to join him. Am I even looking? The tension, the chaos, the grief, the struggles . . . will still be there – we are not promised that this life, even with Jesus, will be easy. We tend to think that the waves we are facing are something strange happening to us (1 Peter 4:12). The Bible is very clear that in this life, we will have problems, but we can take heart because Jesus overcame the world (and all the issues in it – my addition to John 16:33.)
The invitation is there for all who ask. ALL access. He is waiting for you to take a step towards Him, no matter the storms swirling or the waves in your periphery vying for your attention. HE IS THERE. The choice is ours to focus on the tensions or seek the calm.
“He’s with us. He’s standing on the waves for us. Inviting us to experience him more fully.”
(Dan Jacobsen on Sunday)
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Put yourself in the story. It’s not very hard right now to imagine a storm brewing or in full on assault. Instead of just hearing and feeling the storm, what words are being howled by the wind in your life today? What “waves” are looming large?
Take a moment to identify and name what causes fear or anxiety for you. Are they so big you feel them crashing down in a way that is overwhelming or demoralizing, or does it make you seek the calm of Jesus? Both? Peter asks, and Jesus calls him to “come,” in the middle of the storm, not after the storm has stopped.
Jesus is there in the storm, and the invitation is for you too, “Come.” Take the first step, and the next, and the next. If/when you lose sight, he’s there too when you call out for help. Are you still in the boat, taking a step, sinking, calling out for help? Wherever you find yourself, you will find Jesus ready to meet you there.
{bible reading plan: book of hebrews}
For the next few months, we invite you to engage the Bible differently along with us. Each week we will be reading a book from Hebrews 4 times, in 4 ways, as directed below. Instead of daily verses, you are free to engage in the practice outlined below as a "choose your adventure". You might do this all in one sitting, or choose to do an exercise a day. We’d love to hear your feedback, just drop an email to Lisa Zulke.
For an overview of Hebrews, watch this 8 minute video from our friends at The Bible Project.
Read the passage slowly, sitting with it and allowing it to frame and fill your mind. Listen for a single word or phrase that catches your attention. Something you want to ponder further or hold on to.
What word or phrase caught your attention?
"I heard _____________________________________________"
The second time you read the passage, reflect on what you have heard. Use your imagination to put yourself in the story, in the context of this letter to the Hebrew people. What do you THINK or NOTICE? What do you SEE? What do you FEEL? What do you LEARN about Jesus? What QUESTIONS are you pondering about Jesus in this reading? Engaging our senses invites curiosity about what we have read.
"I saw, I felt, I noticed _____________________________________"
The third time you read the passage, listen specifically for a personal invitation. What am I being invited to consider? What am I being invited to do or try? Sit quietly and listen. Pray, asking God for insight into what he wants to share with you.
"I believe Jesus is inviting me to ___________________________"
After the fourth reading, respond to Hebrews 6. Read it again, and noodle on what you’ve experienced and taken note of so far. What are you sensing or hearing from Jesus or about Jesus? Pray, inviting Jesus to nudge you in a decision: what am I going to do with what I’ve heard? How will I act on it? How might I integrate it into my daily life?
"I will __________________________________________________"
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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