4 June 2010
Psalm 40, 54; Eccles. 5:1-7; Gal. 3:15-22; Matt. 14:22-36

Draw near to listen is good prayer advice. Often we approach the throne of God with many words rather than a heart desiring to first hear from Him. That attitude of listening first is a habit we should cultivate. Meditating on the Word is a good way to begin our time of prayer, not simply hurrying through a passage but a practice of lectio divina will allow us to move into the presence of God through His Word abiding in us. Solomon tells us to be careful about what we say, to guard our lips and our words, allow our lives to speak for us. The fear of God of which he writes here is that which brings us to a place of quiet humility before Him.

In order to get some time to pray Jesus sends the disciples out on the boat while He remained on the mountain. The storm that blew up on the lake provided an opportunity to reveal a bit more of His divine nature to them. Peter believes that in obedience to the command of Jesus even he can walk on the water but when he saw the strong wind he lost faith and began to sink. How like us that is. We profess great faith and make a great beginning of walking in faith in the midst of the storm but then we see the difficulties and lose heart. The Word of God and faith in that word must go hand in hand for it to be effectual in our lives. Faith without content and content without faith are equally ineffectual.

Paul’s attitude towards the law is utterly changed in his encounter with Jesus. His rabbinic side comes out in these teachings as he counters the arguments of those who have taught the Galatians that the law is key to covenant. He reaches back to the original promise and covenant with Abraham, the covenant that promised that through him all nations on earth would be blessed. Instead of the Mosaic covenant, Paul takes us back to the original covenant, one that was simply a promise based on faith. Abraham trusted the word of the Lord (the promise of land and offspring) and that faith was accounted to him as righteousness. The law has a purpose, however, and it is to allow us to see our sin in order that we understand God’s mercy and increase our hope for a deliverer.

Happy are those who make
the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;
none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.