What About You?
There’s a difference between playing along with Jeopardy at home and taking the semester test in history class with 50% of your grade riding on how you perform. When you sit at home and watch Jeopardy you can throw out wrong answers and criticize the contestants when they incorrectly answer. It is just inconsequential diversion. But when you are taking a semester test that counts for 50% of your final grade, now you’ve got “some skin in the game.” Now your answers matter a great deal!
She Just Knew There Were Some Crumbs!
Our text for today has something for everyone. If you have ever felt like an outsider in God’s Kingdom, if you have ever felt unworthy of God’s love, if you have ever felt like you are not the “right stuff” for God. If you are a parent who has prayed for a sick or troubled child, if you have ever felt like God does not hear your prayers, like God is being dismissive with you, like God doesn’t hear you or doesn’t see you, this text is for you!
Truly the Son of God!
The story before us this morning is well-known. When I read the text a few moments ago, that very likely was not the first time you had ever heard this story. This event is recorded by three of the Gospel writers. Matthew, Mark, and John all record it. But when we read all three of these stories, we will notice something quite interesting. Matthew is the only one who includes the information about Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water.
A Cosmically Bad Trade
Have you ever made a bad trade? Generally when making a trade you want to come out feeling like you got the better end of the deal. You trade something of lesser value for something you feel has greater value. The Milwaukee Bucks just traded away the franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo (and Bobby Portis) to the Miami Heat for four players and five future draft picks. Both the Bucks and the Heat feel like they got the better end of the trade. Time will tell if this was a good trade or a bad trade for the Bucks.
Rescue for the Wretched
“How could he do that? He’s supposed to be a Christian!” Have you ever felt that way about someone? Someone you know, someone you respect as a brother or sister in Christ does something sinful, shockingly sinful. We are left wondering, “How can this be?”
Gilded Rebellion
Have you ever heard the phrase “putting lipstick on a pig”? It sounds silly and it certainly makes for a funny picture in one’s imagination. But it also makes a serious and important point. A pig with lipstick is still…a pig. If I put a fresh coat of paint on a broken down old jalopy it is still a broken down old jalopy. If I put a spritz of cologne on a manure wagon it still smells like manure.
