Only Jesus

"Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.[1]    

There is no doubt God determined that the path to life is through his son. Jesus of Nazareth is the, path, the way, the door, to life. Nothing could be simpler, yet man has taken upon himself to embellish and modify that simplicity, encumbering disciples of Jesus with doctrines, traditions, and churches. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees…

…for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.^[2]

Through the prophet Jeremiah God announced that the new covenant would be written on human hearts.[3] Look around, do you see believers wearing the helmet of salvation[4], or as Paul told the Thessalonians, “…let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”[5] What you may see, is people on their way to their particular church, to listen to its preaching and follow its rules. Christianity today is represented by institutional groups, rather than the way God planned. As Jesus was the representative of God, believers are to represent Jesus, not through a church, doctrine, or tradition. As an old hymn said, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, all his wonderful passion and purity…” That would be a good starting place.

In the old system, the temple and the synagogue were not to set rules –the law was preeminent. Isaiah ptophecied the time would come when religious leaders would usurp the law’s authority, taking upon themselves the right to set rules. It was those rules which Jesus denounced. From the institutionalization of Christianity under Constantine, the Church has taken on itself authority it has no right to. Jesus is the only avenue through which people can approach God. When a church functions to support individuals as they walk with Jesus it provides a much needed service. When a church establishes programs and mission activities, organizing religious life for members, it has gone too far. The church is not the path to life, only Jesus holds that position. The church is not a vehicle delivering believers to God. Whenever the church takes upon itself any priority role to act as a medium between a believer and God, it becomes a hindrance to that believer. Church organizations are at best social clubs, but most times, they are much worse than clubs. The reason for this is, they teach believers that joining the church and following its rules is the way to life. Church programs are not the same as living for Jesus. Preachers aren’t paid to live godly lives; they live godly lives, and are paid to work with a church, to preach and teach in that locality.

"What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."[6]

There are many believers who attend churches and yet maintain their individuality in serving Jesus. Christian unity exists, despite divisions and rancor among churches. “…God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’”[7] thank goodness, it is through Jesus we come to God. There is no church that has everything right. As someone said, “we can’t all be right, but we can all be wrong.”

Our focus should be on Jesus –only Jesus.

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[1] Joh 5:19-29

[2] Mat 15:6-9

[3] Jer 31:33

[4] Eph 6:17

[5] 1Th 5:8, 9

[6] Joh 6:28, 29

[7] 2Ti 2:19  

"Behold, the Man!"

Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is himself the way.[1]

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.[2]

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,[3]

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.[4]

"Behold, the Man!"[5]

Much has been written on the phrase “Behold the Man”, some better than others. My choice to use the phrase has nothing to do with what others have written. To me the phrase is a clarion call, to see, to hear, and to follow, Jesus the man, who was God’s Son. As Pilate uttered the words "Behold, the Man!” God’s Son stood silently; condemned by the religious elite, forsaken by those he came to save. The scene, not unlike a wounded lion surrounded by a pack of mangy curs, snarling, snapping and frothing at the mouth, cowardly dogs waiting for life to ebb before moving in for the kill. Priests, and members of the Sanhedrin, together conspired against the Son of God. Jesus stood before all as the most abject and pitiful of men. But, there was no pity in the hearts his accusers, only jealous hatred. The parable Jesus told of the tenants recorded in Matthew, was understood by his adversaries; “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them.”[6] Instead of changing their ways, they killed him. God’s representative on earth, Jesus the man, was and is, the only path leading to God. There is no way to circumvent Jesus, his is the only way leading to God. Religious bodies which claim access to God, but do not accept Jesus as the one and only Saviour, delude themselves and defraud their followers.  Any Church or religion that minimizes Jesus, or claims to have access to God without going through Jesus is idolatrous and godless. The scriptures are replete with statements saying that Jesus is the only way to God and eternal life. “The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath.”[7]

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.[8]

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.[9]

You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.[10]

While Jesus was in the world he was the light, the heavenly light that illuminated the path to God. Jesus told his disciples they were the light of the world. The disciples were commissioned to take the word throughout the world at that time. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “…be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”[11] As the apostles taught people about Jesus, they passed on the torch so that each believer became a light of influence in his or her environment. That torch has been passed on to all believers. The light of Jesus shines from his disciples in every age, a light in darkness.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.[12]

“I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”[13]

God’s love was revealed in Jesus. The love of the Father passed through the Son to his disciples; his disciples were to demonstrate God’s love in their lives. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”[14] Those with whom the apostles shared the gospel were to practice God’s love in their lives. God’s love flowed through Jesus to the first disciples, from the disciples to people around them. Disciples of Jesus have a duty to reflect the Master’s love. I don’t believe that it is an accident that Jesus is the only path to God. As Jesus said in his conversation of the shepherd and the sheep, “I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he shall be saved…” It abundantly evident the Jesus lived as an ambassador for his Father. As disciples of Jesus, believers have a similar responsibility to represent Jesus in their lives and actions.

You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.[15]

Jesus was God’s living message, communicating God’s love and grace. All believers take upon themselves the attitude of Jesus as their own. As Jesus represented his Lord, we represent Jesus. When we are witnesses of the love of Jesus, and our behaviour draws attention to him, we are living in him and he is living in us. Our lives become the message that other people see and hear. Whether you are involved in church or not, you are responsible for the message that emanates from you. We are to let the love of Jesus be our life’s prime message.

Icons also lift up our minds from earthly things to the heavenly.  St. John of Damascus wrote, "we are led by perceptible Icons to the contemplation of the divine and spiritual".  And by keeping their memory before us through the Icons, we are also inspired to imitate the holiness of those therein depicted.[16] 

I understand that icons are very important to Orthodox Christians, but I cannot accept that they are anything other than idolatry. I read that to Orthodox believers there is a difference between veneration and worship, but once again it is idolatry in the guise of reverence. It is written that Hezekiah

…did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.[17]

Nehushtan, meaning “the brass thing”.[18] The Orthodox Information Center suggests that a primary reason for icons is to teach the illiterate and children. That is a faulty reason. “…faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” God has given the responsibility of spiritual education of children to the father[19]. There is no excuse for veneration of icons no matter what they are, or what purpose is used to justify them. Jesus is the message from God –the only message. Faith in God is an absolute requirement, not a second hand acceptance of God through veneration of artifacts or dead people. There is something wrong with “faith” if it has to be initiated or maintained by artificial props. The veneration of icons would suggest that the teaching of James ought to be modified to include icons; faith and action are not enough. There were many illiterate people and children when James wrote, and he did not recommend acceptance of icons. I believe that anything used as a prop for lagging faith, or anything we offer veneration other than Jesus is absolutely wrong. Salvation is through believing in Jesus. There is no need for anything else, God sent Jesus as his message. “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?”[20] Faith based on artifacts and icons is false faith, it demeans the risen Lord. Why focus on dead things and people, when we are called to honour the living Son of God.

It is difficult for our finite minds to relate to the infinite God. It just might be that Jesus serves as the link between humans and God, because of his humanity. He is the Saviour, he is the Mediator, he is the Advocate, and while on earth, he was human. The acceptance of the humanity of Jesus cannot be underestimated. Jesus is the most important link we have to God.

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[21]

We glorify God by being disciples of Jesus. We can relate to Jesus the person, because he was human like we are. The Word, the message of God lived as a person, and shared our human traits. Through the written word we can hear Jesus speak, we can reflect on how he interacted with others, and we can experience his love. And, Jesus set the pattern for disciples to follow.

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.[22]

The last phrase of Jesus’ answer made it clear that seeing him was the same as seeing the Father. The scripture says, “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature…”[23] The pattern for disciples is to project the nature and likeness of Jesus through our lives. There’s nothing wrong in going to church, but that’s not what this means. Our everyday lives have to be where this takes place, at home, at work, or at play. There is not a moment of the day when we can step back from our duty to represent Jesus. Paul speaks to the change that takes place when people are in Christ, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view…”[24] As a disciple of Jesus we live as a new person. Living for Jesus is not the same as being religious, it has nothing to do with how often we go to church, or how many scriptures we have memorized. Living for Jesus isn’t being a missionary, or a preacher. Living for Jesus doesn’t preclude the fore mentioned. Those are aspects and choices of our personal lives, not to be confused with living the message. We get a hint of what this means from Jesus teaching;

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'[25]

As the function of the synagogue was to support people to live as God wanted them to, the role of the church is to support the people of God to live the message of Jesus. Commitment to a church or a religion is not what God wants, it’s your life that is required. A total commitment to God through Jesus. A life seen by the world as the message of God through Jesus.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.[26]

The world has become a dark place; now is the time for followers of Jesus to shine. It is not our place to condemn the world, but to be a glimmer of hope in our communities, a gentle light radiating God’s love through Jesus. This is a lifestyle not a religion. The purpose of church fellowship is to encourage believers as they live each day for Jesus. As followers of Jesus our duty and privilege is to honour the Saviour. Jesus has to be Lord of our lives. We have to grow and mature as disciples to the point where we can echo Paul’s words, “…I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”[27] I would advocate a generic church. Titles and names are exclusive and divisive. There is only one name by which we can be saved –Jesus. As citizens of the kingdom we have but one king –Jesus. As the redeemed we have but one Saviour –Jesus.

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.[28]

Living as a representative of Jesus has to be our priority. It doesn’t come easy or without some learning. We have many conflicting plans and a number of ideas how best to serve Jesus: There is church and its demands. There is employment and everything it requires, and there is home life and family, leisure time and recreation all requiring our attention. We must have balance in our lives. Jesus doesn’t call us to give up these things. He requires that whatever we do, we do to his glory[29]. The difficulty that we face is that Jesus hasn’t given us a list of do’s and don’ts –he wants us to assume his nature. Our lives are to become his personal message. My understanding of scripture leads me to conclude that Jesus is more important than any cause, he is more important than church, and he has to be the most important person to each of us. We can’t accept Jesus’ divinity without accepting his humanity. And, it is his humanity we look to, to shape our lives. We need to be able to hear his voice in scripture, to acknowledge his role as leader. We have to accept him as our master, and learn from him. All scripture centers on Jesus. The gospels give an up close and personal view of Jesus as a man, as well as, the Son of God. Since we are to imitate Jesus, and represent him, we have to know him. We need to become familiar with Jesus –the way he approached his mission, and the way he communicated God’s word, so that we can become like him.

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[1] Karl Barth

[2] Act 4:12 

[3] Heb 1:1-3

[4] Heb 12:1, 2

[5] Joh 19:5 (NASV)

[6] Mat 21:45

[7] Joh 3:35, 36

[8] Joh 8:12 

[9] Joh 9:5 

[10] Mat 5:14-16

[11] Php 2:15 

[12] 1Jn 4:7-11

[13] Joh 17:26 

[14] Joh 15:12 

[15] 2Co 3:2, 3

[16] Orthodox Christian Information Center

[17] 2Ki 18:3, 4

[18] Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

[19] Eph 6:4

[20] Luke 24:5 

[21] Php 2:5-11

[22] Joh 14:8, 9

[23] Heb 1:3 

[24] 2Co 5:16  (NRSV)

[25] Mat 7:21-23

[26] Joh 3:14-18

[27] 2Ti 1:12 

[28] Joh 20:30, 31

[29] Col 3:17

Calm in a Time of Chaos

Has the world ever experienced such chaos as now? I would think so. Maybe because there are more humans living today, and the immediate availability of news from around the world, chaos appears more pronounced. But, chaos is not to be characterized by size of population, as much as its effect on the people who experience it. I think the chaos in which we live threatens our life-styles, our security, and expectation of the future. Waves of asylum seekers inundate immigration systems, shatter laws and regulations, and bog systems down. Legal processes are circumvented, and governments seem helpless to deal with the growing number of people crossing borders coming into their countries illegally. In some countries terrorists have infiltrated under the guise of being refugees. In a country in which employment opportunities are scarce, people view the influx of immigrants as threatening to their livelihood. Government leaders smile for cameras, in a display of magnanimity to refugees, while ordinary people are having a hard time feeding their families. Refugees are given more than needy citizens.

Assad’s war against his own people has reduced most of Syria to rubble. The Saudis and Iran fight each other in Yemen, leaving that population destitute and diseased. The Islamic State takes barbarism to a level not seen in the modern world. Governments in the west seem to be bent on destroying their countries’ economies, and putting their people out of work for the political correctness of “saving the planet”. The Rohingya have for a long time suffered the terrorism of the Myanmar army. The present South African government is more oppressive and corrupt than the hated apartheid governments of the past.

Terrorism is “the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.”

It is revealing that the definition of “terrorism” in its simplicity might be applied to many governments, not only those in Africa and the Philippines. If judged by disruption, anxiety, and fear, the government of the US is as guilty as any African dictatorship of terrorism. The inability of US law makers to control their president is tantamount to supporting terrorism. Considering that the foregoing is a small part of what people hear about, and see on television every day, the prospect of calm in a time of chaos, seems virtually impossible. I can guaranty that no clichés will afford anyone the calm we all long for.

One thing that causes uneasiness is change. Governments change, policies change, tax rules change, add to that climate change and you’ve got a crazy world. We can leave climate change to the fanatics, because it’s the myriad of little changes that cause us the greatest concern. The ten minute change in school start time, seasonal time change in spring and fall, and the fear changes that erode our lifestyle. Change is difficult to adapt to, but adapt we must, or we’ll end up with the fanatics trying to prevent climate change, or some other senseless cause. Back in the olden days of 1998 an author asked the question, “In a sea of change, how can we create stability? I believe there are three main sources of security today. They are: Our ability to learn continually. Our ability to change. Our ability to cope with uncertainty. Paradoxically, these are what we fear the most as adults.”[1]

When he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus himself was asleep. And they came to him and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"[2]

In connection with this passage it is important to try understand the meaning of faith from a Jewish stand point.

In the OT to believe in God is to acknowledge Him as such. This includes trust, and hope, fear and obedience. But these are a unity, since trust is taken radically and thus includes the overcoming of both anxiety and self-confidence. Faith is a daring decision for God in man's turning aside both from the menacing world and also from his own strength. As is sometimes stressed, it is thus faith in spite of appearances. 'As a confident decision for God it contains within itself suppressed temptation. This faith in God is not just general trust. It is grounded in what God has done in the past. Hence it has its own firm relation to the past.[3]

This exposition of faith to Jews in Old Testament times broadens the understanding of why Jesus criticized the disciples for having “little faith”. The disciples had been with Jesus only a short time, but Jesus expected that they should have faith beyond what they demonstrated. “This faith in God is not just general trust. It is grounded in what God has done in the past… ” God’s chosen people should have faith in his ability to save. “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” I don’t think the sailors expected Jesus to bale water, or row harder, there was something else in their impassioned plea. If they believed they were accompanied by the Son of God, they might have realized there was no need to wake him.

Like many biblical characteristics faith has been institutionalized, if not trivialized. “All you have to do is believe (have faith) and pray beside your radio. Or, a confession, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God” –that’s all it takes. Consider what James wrote, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”[4] James approached faith from a Jewish point of view, this is suggested by his use of the primary confession in the Shema, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”[5] Faith in the context of first century Judaism, included “trust, and hope, fear and obedience.” Faith also included, “overcoming of both anxiety and self-confidence“. “Faith is a daring decision for God in man's turning aside both from the menacing world and also from his own strength.”

“Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.”[6] “It shall be done to you according to your faith.”[7] “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.”[8] “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”[9] Jesus complimented each of these people. For each had through action revealed their faith. Each in his or her own way overcame both anxiety and self-confidence. Each of them looked away from the world and toward God. The attitude of those whose faith the Lord commended was one of total submission to God. Looking back to the details of Jesus and his disciples in the boat; the storm was severe and a number of the disciples being fishermen knew the danger that situation. In Luke’s account Jesus asked the disciples where their faith was. In both Luke’s and Mark’s account the question regarding faith was after Jesus stopped the storm. Mark records that Jesus asked them why they were afraid, and Luke states they were fearful. In all accounts the disciples are left wondering who Jesus was that nature obeyed him,

If we imagine that we are in that boat with a storm raging around us, what would we be thinking? We would likely be watching every wave wondering if it would be the one to swamp the boat. We’d be aware of the roar of the wind, we’d feel the chilling cold spray hitting our faces. We would be in a state of extreme anxiety with numerous thoughts rushing through our minds. Like the disciples, we would be in fear of losing our lives. Unless we were paralyzed by fear, we might be thinking of what we could do to manage the situation. Some people would set about trying to take action to avoid disaster, no matter how futile their efforts. We are not in that boat, however, in everyday life we face a barrage of issues which cause anxiety in most, or the need to fix the issue with others, or in some unfortunate people, both.

…in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"[10]

When Peter’s focus was on Jesus he walked on water, but distracted by the realities of the world he sank. The dictionary’s description of faith includes, “man's turning aside both from the menacing world and also from his own strength.” Peter was able to walk on water until he was influenced by the danger that surrounded him. I give him full marks for trying, but Jesus said him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Being a fisherman he knew that it was impossible to walk on water. That impetuous characteristic that led him to take those initial steps defying nature would no doubt remain as credit to his faith as long as he lived. But more so, sinking into the black abys, would guard his mind and heart going forward. Jesus’ question to Peter wasn’t simply rhetorical, Peter was forced to concede that mature faith isn’t influenced by threats of the world, nor does faith require personal strength. Mature faith gives up trying to control everything around us, so that neither threat nor personal ability is important. Faith is demonstrated in total submission to God.

In the book of Judges Gideon was selected to deliver Israel. One might feel that Gideon was conflicted, he sought proof from God that he would be accompanied into battle. God indulged Gideon, and when ready a large army of Israel went out to meet the foe. On the frontline God spoke to Gideon, “The LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, 'My own power has delivered me.'””[11] Gideon got a lesson on faith that day; his need assessment said 32,000 men were required to gain victory. From a human standpoint he was right, but faith is trust in God, not in your own strength. Gideon went into battle with less than one percent of the soldiers he started with. Mature faith is handing everything over to God, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”[12] Calm in a time of chaos can only exist when we submit to God through faith. We have to give up our frenzied attempts to right wrongs, or correct the misguided, or to sort out the world’s issues –or even our own. If you want to walk on water you mustn’t look at the wind.

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[1] The Learning Paradox, by Jim Harris p. 17

[2] Mat 8:23-27

[3] Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Kittel

[4] Jas 2:19 

[5] Deu 6:4

[6] Mat 9:22

[7] Mat 9:29

[8] Mat 15:28

[9] Luke 7:50

[10] Mat 14:25-31

[11] Jdgs. 7:2 

[12] 1Pe 5:6, 7