10 August 2014 - blessed be your name

10 August 2014 - blessed be your name

This morning we learn about recognizing the presence of God.

We are often surrounded by wind and waves in our leaky little boats.  We are surrounded, but not abandoned.  Circumstances can be chaotic.  But the LORD comes to us amid the circumstances.  He speaks quietly but he wants to be heard.  He does not want to be mistaken for a ghost.

Nor does he want to be mistaken for the circumstances themselves.  Wind, earthquakes, fire, and storms are powerful manifestations.  Sometimes they are helpful.  Sometimes the mountains which the heavy wind rends are mountains we want to see fall.  Sometimes our circumstances are stagnant and need earthquakes and fire to shake them up and renew them.  It is tempting to make a one to one association between these manifestations and the God who causes or allows them.  Then we praise God when things are good and begrudge and curse him when things are bad.

Job is right to say "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" But how can we really mean that?  It is one thing to say it or sing it.  It is something else again to mean it.

We have to recognize this separation between the LORD and our circumstances.  

but the LORD was not in the wind. 

but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 

but the LORD was not in the fire.

We must wait for the "tiny whispering sound."  We must wait for a figure so unassuming and unimposing that we might mistake him for a ghost.  If we listen we will hear him say,  “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

We are so worried that the winds are punishments we deserve.  We are afraid that a lack of the things we want is because God doesn't love us.  But that isn't how God wants us to understand him.  He is present to us in good circumstances and bad.  He comes to us amid the storms and the sunshine.  He wants to be our fixed point of reference.  He wants to be our source of peace.  But he does not give peace as the world does (cf. Joh. 14:27).  He will show us that he is all we need, if we let him.  Even while the storms continue, he changes our relationship to them.  Not only does he give us peace, but he gives us courage.  Sometimes the courage he gives us inspires us to risk new and great things.

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 
He said, “Come.” 
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 

Jesus wants to inspire us with courage, too.  He wants to invite us to come closer to him even if it means stepping out of our boats and onto the waves. But when we do turn back to the circumstances and take our eyes off of him he does not abandon us.  He let's us see his kindness and grants us his salvation.

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Our circumstances press in, but he is not far away!

Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.

He wants to convince us of who he is and what that means for us.

Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

He wants us to be so convinced that the desire to share it burns within our very bones.  Paul experiences this feeling for his fellow Israelites.

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;
my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh. 

He knows that Jesus is the Son of God and he can't stand the fact that these people whom he loves don't.  He sees the difference it can make, the peace it can bring, and he will do all he can to share it.  He won't stop until all know "Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen."  May we follow this example.