Swimming Lessons
Michael Phelps is undeniably one of the best swimmers in the world. The man is incredible; while I boast of being able to hold my breath while swimming across the short side of the pool, he boasts 18 gold medals.
Imagine that Michael and I are standing on the beach in Florida. We wade into the water and start swimming. One mile out, I would have to be rescued. I just wouldn't be able to swim any farther. But not Michael. He would keep going... and going... and going... and eventually, he too would have to stop.
Because, 18 gold medals or not, Michael Phelps still has limitations as a human being. It doesn't matter how good of a swimmer you are, you can't swim across the ocean.
The same is true of man reaching God. It doesn't matter how many prayers you pray, how many homeless people you serve, or how many worship songs you know, you are still not holy enough to reach God. It's just not a feat that is humanly possible.
Perhaps that's why God had to come to Earth to establish a way for us to reach Him. No, we can't swim across the ocean, but that doesn't mean that we can't go to Europe or Africa... it just means we need a boat.
So now Michael and I have spent a year recovering from our disastrous swimming adventure, and we are back at the beach. But this time we're ready. We have a boat. We have a destination. We stand there on the beach. We acknowledge the boat. We acknowledge the destination. And... we are still on the beach.
How often do we acknowledge Jesus' sacrifice for us and our need for God only to remain anchored in the sand? Just standing there doesn't get you any closer to the tropical island than swimming does.
God offers peace. God offers healing. God offers joy. These are things we are more than able to acknowledge, but when God asks us to step into the boat, we balk. We could drown. We could crash. The weather doesn't look good, and the ocean is so very big. But God doesn't ask for recognition, he asks for faith. It takes no faith to say there is a boat. It takes faith to get into it.
In the next week, I challenge you to step into your own boats. Notice the opportunities God presents you with in answer to your prayers, and act on them. At times, the boat might seem small. The waves might seem choppy. But remember, you are not at the mercy of the boat nor the waves, but in the capable hands of a Captain who knows what He is doing and loves you very much.
"[Jesus] replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." -Matthew 8:6
Imagine that Michael and I are standing on the beach in Florida. We wade into the water and start swimming. One mile out, I would have to be rescued. I just wouldn't be able to swim any farther. But not Michael. He would keep going... and going... and going... and eventually, he too would have to stop.
Because, 18 gold medals or not, Michael Phelps still has limitations as a human being. It doesn't matter how good of a swimmer you are, you can't swim across the ocean.
The same is true of man reaching God. It doesn't matter how many prayers you pray, how many homeless people you serve, or how many worship songs you know, you are still not holy enough to reach God. It's just not a feat that is humanly possible.
Perhaps that's why God had to come to Earth to establish a way for us to reach Him. No, we can't swim across the ocean, but that doesn't mean that we can't go to Europe or Africa... it just means we need a boat.
So now Michael and I have spent a year recovering from our disastrous swimming adventure, and we are back at the beach. But this time we're ready. We have a boat. We have a destination. We stand there on the beach. We acknowledge the boat. We acknowledge the destination. And... we are still on the beach.
How often do we acknowledge Jesus' sacrifice for us and our need for God only to remain anchored in the sand? Just standing there doesn't get you any closer to the tropical island than swimming does.
God offers peace. God offers healing. God offers joy. These are things we are more than able to acknowledge, but when God asks us to step into the boat, we balk. We could drown. We could crash. The weather doesn't look good, and the ocean is so very big. But God doesn't ask for recognition, he asks for faith. It takes no faith to say there is a boat. It takes faith to get into it.
In the next week, I challenge you to step into your own boats. Notice the opportunities God presents you with in answer to your prayers, and act on them. At times, the boat might seem small. The waves might seem choppy. But remember, you are not at the mercy of the boat nor the waves, but in the capable hands of a Captain who knows what He is doing and loves you very much.
"[Jesus] replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." -Matthew 8:6
Great post, Jessica. I love the part about not being at the mercy of the boat or the waves. Both are inconsequential. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDelete