This past week I have been reading Matthew again for (I don*t know the 100th time) but this time I have a pink marker that I am using. The last time it was a lovely mint green. That is certainly one of my favorite things to do - read it and then reflect on the words that our Lord and Savior shared with his disciples all those years ago. The words still resonate with us today and maybe I am naive, but most of what he says is pretty straight forward. Some have different opinions on what he means in the parables but I personally think that if you pray to the Holy Spirit before you open your Bible and read them that you just may have an aha moment. At least that has been my experience while reading them.
What I have noticed this week is how often the phrase, *Oh you of little faith* has been used by Jesus and I am only up to Chapter 17. You would think that of the times that He said it that it was to the Pharisees but it was not; it was once to the disciples listening to Him during one of His sermons and TWICE to his apostles one of which was Peter! It made me think of how many times my faith was a little lacking or lukewarm. God knows my terrible teens and half of my twenties were arid times of faith. The events of today in Boston will lead many to say where was God? What it all comes down to is that we MUST have that faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to carry us through the dark and arid times. If Peter, who walked with Jesus every day for 3 years, ate with him, sat with him, and lay his head on a cloak close to him started to sink into the water that Jesus was walking upon than we mere mortals are not immune to those moments of doubt or fear. If you really think about it Jesus truly loved Peter and he was the one on whom Jesus most relied on to carry His message after He had gone. Jesus loved Peter, but Peter witnessed all that was accomplished by Him. Imagine how much Jesus loves those of us that have not seen Him face to face yet have the faith that we have. That surely must bring us many blessings. Jesus even said that in the Bible, blessed are they that have not seen but believe (to paraphrase).
May you never have those arid or lukewarm moments and if you do, open your hearts and your Bible and see just where Our Lord*s words lead you.
What I have noticed this week is how often the phrase, *Oh you of little faith* has been used by Jesus and I am only up to Chapter 17. You would think that of the times that He said it that it was to the Pharisees but it was not; it was once to the disciples listening to Him during one of His sermons and TWICE to his apostles one of which was Peter! It made me think of how many times my faith was a little lacking or lukewarm. God knows my terrible teens and half of my twenties were arid times of faith. The events of today in Boston will lead many to say where was God? What it all comes down to is that we MUST have that faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to carry us through the dark and arid times. If Peter, who walked with Jesus every day for 3 years, ate with him, sat with him, and lay his head on a cloak close to him started to sink into the water that Jesus was walking upon than we mere mortals are not immune to those moments of doubt or fear. If you really think about it Jesus truly loved Peter and he was the one on whom Jesus most relied on to carry His message after He had gone. Jesus loved Peter, but Peter witnessed all that was accomplished by Him. Imagine how much Jesus loves those of us that have not seen Him face to face yet have the faith that we have. That surely must bring us many blessings. Jesus even said that in the Bible, blessed are they that have not seen but believe (to paraphrase).
May you never have those arid or lukewarm moments and if you do, open your hearts and your Bible and see just where Our Lord*s words lead you.
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