But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. Matthew 14:30
I was thinking today, what if it hadn't been stormy out on the Sea of Galilee that day? What if it had been a nice, sunshiney day with birds singing and a gentle, cool breeze kissing the face of the water? What if Peter had stepped out to walk on the water and looked away at the gently lapping water, the green hillsides in the distance, the cloud-dotted skies and thought, "What a beautiful day!"? I submit to you that...he would have started to sink.
See, we need faith when things are going well, too. It's not like it's something we just need to turn on when the storms come. And it's not any easier, either. I'm sure you've heard someone say, "It's easy to have faith when things are going well." I've probably said it myself. That's not true. It's easy to SAY we have faith when things are going well. Saying and having...two very different things. We can get distracted by the good just as easily (if not more so) than the bad. Don't forget to keep your eyes on the Master when the seas are calm, too!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
I Have Confidence
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. 2 Corinthians 7:16
That's quite a statement, to say you have confidence in someone in everything. But it's an admirable thing to strive towards. We should inspire confidence in others. Our neighbors and co-workers and friends should have confidence in us. They should just know that we're going to do the right thing even as they ask the question. They should feel like they could trust us with anything and in any situation. We're children of God. How can we claim the name of Christ if we're not confidence-inspiring people?
That's quite a statement, to say you have confidence in someone in everything. But it's an admirable thing to strive towards. We should inspire confidence in others. Our neighbors and co-workers and friends should have confidence in us. They should just know that we're going to do the right thing even as they ask the question. They should feel like they could trust us with anything and in any situation. We're children of God. How can we claim the name of Christ if we're not confidence-inspiring people?
Friday, February 11, 2011
Believe Me Not
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. John 10:37
I think every Christian should come with a sign quoting this verse. There are so very many people claiming the name of Christ who aren't doing His works. And I wonder, too, how many would read this and start listing in their minds things like going to church, not having "bad" habits, etc.; yet never even consider the actual list of God attributes we're really supposed to be showing: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Are we doing these things? Scratch that...forget this "we" stuff...am I doing these things? Because, if I'm not, I certainly hope no one believes me when I label myself with the name of Christ.
I think every Christian should come with a sign quoting this verse. There are so very many people claiming the name of Christ who aren't doing His works. And I wonder, too, how many would read this and start listing in their minds things like going to church, not having "bad" habits, etc.; yet never even consider the actual list of God attributes we're really supposed to be showing: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Are we doing these things? Scratch that...forget this "we" stuff...am I doing these things? Because, if I'm not, I certainly hope no one believes me when I label myself with the name of Christ.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Dream Big
From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Isreal his inheritance. Psalm 78:71
Where do you think David saw himself going from the fields? I imagine David after killing the lion, daydreaming about going to war with his older brothers, bragging about how many enemies he'd slain, being a war hero. But I doubt he ever saw himself killing an unbeatable giant with his slingshot and becoming an instant national hero and household name. I imagine there were times where young David, hot and tired and dusty from pulling some wayward lamb out of a ditch imagined his future self like his father--staying up at the house, shaded and well-fed and clean while someone else did the grunt work. But I find it highly unlikely David ever imagined he would be the king of Israel, ruling over his father and brothers from a palace.
Sometimes we look at where we're at and where we want to be and cannot see how we can possibly get from point A to point B. We expect God to make us settle for something less than our dreams, when it may be that He has something much bigger in store--something beyond even our own seemingly unattainable imaginings. You have no idea what great things God has in store for you around the corner. Don't be afraid to dream big.
Where do you think David saw himself going from the fields? I imagine David after killing the lion, daydreaming about going to war with his older brothers, bragging about how many enemies he'd slain, being a war hero. But I doubt he ever saw himself killing an unbeatable giant with his slingshot and becoming an instant national hero and household name. I imagine there were times where young David, hot and tired and dusty from pulling some wayward lamb out of a ditch imagined his future self like his father--staying up at the house, shaded and well-fed and clean while someone else did the grunt work. But I find it highly unlikely David ever imagined he would be the king of Israel, ruling over his father and brothers from a palace.
Sometimes we look at where we're at and where we want to be and cannot see how we can possibly get from point A to point B. We expect God to make us settle for something less than our dreams, when it may be that He has something much bigger in store--something beyond even our own seemingly unattainable imaginings. You have no idea what great things God has in store for you around the corner. Don't be afraid to dream big.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Triumph In Christ
Now thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, 2 Corinthians 2:14a
God has a plan for you, and I don't mean a specific, "do-this-then-do-that" blueprint. (Not that I'm saying He doesn't have that.) His plan for each and every one of His children, though is victory. God wants you to live a victorious, triumphant life, above your circumstances, joyous and at peace. This is the future God sees for us. This is the PRESENT God sees for us. It's how He wants us to live always, and it's how we CAN live if we're living in Him. There is triumph in Christ--are you experiencing it?
God has a plan for you, and I don't mean a specific, "do-this-then-do-that" blueprint. (Not that I'm saying He doesn't have that.) His plan for each and every one of His children, though is victory. God wants you to live a victorious, triumphant life, above your circumstances, joyous and at peace. This is the future God sees for us. This is the PRESENT God sees for us. It's how He wants us to live always, and it's how we CAN live if we're living in Him. There is triumph in Christ--are you experiencing it?
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