I recently created a 14-day devotional booklet for my church called “Supplying Every Need.” We’re using it to prepare for our upcoming Stewardship Commitment Sunday on November 8. I will be posting a devotional each day between now and then. Enjoy!
Scripture: Matthew 14:22-33
My mother was a collector of Lladró porcelain figurines. They were these beautiful, delicate knickknacks that she put on a shelf behind glass in a hutch in the “living room”—which was a strange name for it, since no one lived in the living room. No one was allowed in to the living room unless we were entertaining Queen Elizabeth or Prince Charles.
My point is, these figurines were for decoration only; they weren’t action figures. Even though, to a four- or five-year-old kid, they looked deceptively like action figures. And if I played with them—which is to say, if I used them—I got into big trouble. They were not to be used; they were to be put on a shelf, where they looked pretty and collected dust.
I confess that I want my Christian faith to be like these Lladró figurines. I want to possess faith. But I only ever want to have to use it on rare occasions. Otherwise, I’m happy to leave it on the shelf, where it looks good, collecting dust.
Fortunately for us, we can’t be serious disciples of Jesus for very long without needing to take our faith off the shelf and put it into action.
We see this with the disciples in today’s scripture: Notice Matthew tells us that Jesus “made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side.” In other words, the Lord sent them into this frightening situation—far outside their comfort zones—where they were forced to put their faith into action—especially Peter!
The result? “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” Their faith was strengthened. They saw for themselves Christ’s power, which in turn gave them greater confidence to face whatever life threw their way. If Peter were ever walking on water again, chances are he would have been able to take at least a few more steps!
Think of a time in your life where your faith was put to the test. Did you “pass” the test? Or, like Peter, did you fail? Either way, how was the experience good for you?
My dearly departed Mother-in Law (a Saint in life, and now in heaven) collected the Sabino figurines. She also had four rambunctious kids. When John was a four year old, he decided to see if one of the birds could fly. He threw it up, shouting “fly birdie”, and it predictably fell back on the floor, chipping off the end of a wing. That bird went back on the table with the other figurines, but became the most treasured and talked about of all, because it now had a story that was relevant to the family.
Something to think about in the context of today’s message.
Ha! Right!