journey onWord with us

We have all sat on the edge of our seat listening to a master storyteller. The time passed quickly, and the learning experience was enjoyable. You’ve also likely had the opposite experience. The speech was filled with great content, but the presentation was boring. Before we knew it, we were counting down the minutes until the endurance test was over. There is no question about which learning experience we all prefer. I am also pretty certain that our level of retention was much higher with the story-teller. Great stories can make truth come to life. From my perspective, all of us should be very interested in listening from the Master Storyteller.

It has been stated that one-third of Jesus’ teaching in the gospels was in parables. God chose to use stories as one way to convey spiritual truth. Even those with little Biblical knowledge have heard of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. But there is so much more to glean from the Master Storyteller. Matthew, Mark and Luke are laced with wisdom and counsel from the Son of God in parables.

To be perfectly candid, I have read and re-read the parables of Christ. But I have never really studied them in a comprehensive way. It has usually been in more isolated instances. Sure, I have taught the different parables and even gained wonderful insight from them. But to my dismay, I have never taken the time to really examine the parables as a whole. Can I safely assume that you haven’t either? For me (and I hope you), insight into the parables is about to change, and I hope you will take the challenge to study Jesus’ parables with our journey team.

Starting this Sunday (7/1) we will spend an entire quarter looking at parables from the Master Storyteller.  We will examine the vast majority of parables that Jesus taught through our daily Bible reading. If you don’t have a reading plan to follow right now, or have gotten a little lax in your Bible reading, start with us on Sunday. Our goal is to go slower and deeper through different parables and learn what main lesson Christ has for us to learn. Feel free to use the study note templates that will be available at www.journeyonword.com and also linked within each Saturday’s weekly Bible reading email (subscribe at journeyonword today if you don’t currently receive them).

The Master Storyteller gave great insight through the avenue of parables. To think that one-third of His teaching was in this form is amazing to me. My desire is to understand in a fuller and more complete way the richness and powerful truths contained within them. If you would travel with us through the parables over the next twelve weeks, you may just find that the Master Storyteller will keep you on the edge of your seat. With treasure-filled truths!

In talking to my brother yesterday, I found myself giving counsel and advice that was at best falling on deaf ears. To be honest, I was giving him true words, but from a distance. And since the difficult situation wasn’t mine, it was easy to wax eloquent about trusting God in the midst of his pain. It is fair to assume that my counsel didn’t go very far (he already knew all the right answers), but a bigger question for me is; do I really care that much anyway? Before you think less of me, remember that we are all faced with hurting people on a regular basis, and how do we respond? After some personal reading this morning, I was challenged with my weakness, and encouraged by my opportunity.

You know the scene of my reading, and you could probably teach a lesson on some of the nuggets from Gethsemane. Jesus went to spend time with the Father and asked Peter, James and John to “stay here and keep vigil with me.” He was in a moment of extreme sorrow, and wanted some care from his friends. Their actions remind me of how I can easily love and care for my brother (or anyone else), but fall woefully short of really helping. Look at the how Christ addressed Peter when he returned the first time from praying to the Father.

When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”  Matthew 26:40-41 (MSG)

There is a part of me also that is ready for anything in God, and another part that is like that lazy old sleeping dog by the fire. How about you? Do you have any brothers or sisters or children that really need your care?  I believe that Christ left Peter, James and John to watch and pray for Him, but they fell asleep. It is so easy for me (and you) to care deeply about my brother or daughter or friends and then fall asleep on them. Quite frankly, the best help I can give anyone is to go to the perfect Counselor, but sometimes I get like that lazy old sleeping dog. Shame on me because I have experienced the joy of praying and seeing God do what only He can do. What better care can you and I give to those we love than to consistently intercede to the Father for them?

When I was being challenged by my great counsel and ineffective praying this morning, I remembered something I had read earlier this week? Oswald Chambers stated in My Utmost for His Highest these words … “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.” As a saved soul, the real business of your life is intercessory prayer. Whatever circumstances God may place you in, always pray immediately that His atonement may be recognized and as fully understood in the lives of others as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now, and pray for those with whom you come in contact now.

God will use prayer for good in your own life, and certainly in the lives of those you pray for. Peter, James and John loved Christ and probably had deep regret for falling asleep at such a dramatic moment in His life. And I have deep regret when I give great counsel and figuratively fall asleep on those who need me to pray. You and I can’t do anything about failing to pray yesterday, but now is our time. There is someone right now who needs you to intercede to the Father for them. Will you?

What do you need to change in your life? Is it your weight, your attitude, the spiritual lethargy you feel, or just that nagging sense of dread that you will never change. After all, you have tried before, but to no avail! An anonymous writer said it well: If you continue to act as you have always acted, you will continue to get what you have always gotten. If you want different results in your life or your work, all you have to do is change your mind. And quite frankly, most people are caught in getting what they have always gotten. For any Christ follower, change is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. The question is . . . are we willing to change?

Last week, I took time to consider the impetuous and sometimes ridiculous actions, logic and statements of the apostle Peter. At the same time, my wife Genel was looking at the incredible man that Peter became after the resurrection. Now, Genel and I don’t think that he had a personality change, but we do believe that he radically changed … and so can you! Accept these examples of the “before and after Peter” as evidence of his change through the power of God.

It seems to me that before Christ died, Peter continually put his foot in his mouth. When Christ was washing the disciples’ feet, Peter said, “you shall never wash my feet“. After his great confession of Christ, Peter rebuked Christ for conveying that He would be killed and raised the third day. Christ responded with strong words; “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” His most infamous moment was in disowning the Son of God after His arrest.  How could God use someone so greatly, that failed Him so miserably?

But wait. . . this was the same man who then went on to preach at Pentacost where 3000 people accepted Christ.  This was the same man who became so powerful in his faith that people were healed simply by stepping into his shadow.  He healed a lame man and raised a young lady from the dead.  He wrote two books of the New Testament and talked about the lessons he learned from his earlier mistakes.  And how did Peter’s life end?  His wife traveled with him on many of his journeys, and she was arrested along with him for their faith.  Peter was forced to watch as his wife was led to her crucifixion. Historical accounts say that he called out to her, “Remember the Lord!”  When it was Peter’s turn, he insisted he was unworthy to be crucified like his Christ.  So they nailed him to the cross upside down.

What happened to this impetuous, brash man called Peter? He changed! His post- resurrection life was marked by great faith and incredible accomplishments. His life can be summed up with his own writing in 2 Peter 3:18.

Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

God took Peter’s life, shaped, molded and used it for His glory.  He wants to do the same for you! Accept His forgiveness and grace and Let Him!

A friend recently asked me why we don’t walk around all day talking about Jesus.  If we really believe the truth about who He is and who we are, why is His name not on our lips all the time?  He was struggling with this question in his own life, and was anxious for my input.  He implored me not to answer right away and I quickly agreed.  What a big question!  I have learned the value of considering such questions quietly and prayerfully, and to reject the urge to give a quick answer.

I have spent some time in conversation with the Spirit, considering my initial thoughts on my friend’s question.  I will continue to wrestle with it, because I believe the dialog is more important than my answer.  My answer would likely have a temporal effect on my friend’s life, but my conversation with the Spirit has life-long implications on my own.

Where I seem to have settled for now, is with our deficiency in really knowing Him.  Of all the things I have considered, this seems to have the deepest resonance.  This is not an issue of knowing about Him, but truly and genuinely knowing Him.  In John 17:3, Jesus describes knowing God and knowing Him as the definition of eternal life.  This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent —Jesus Christ. (HCSB)  This is not eternal life as we so often define it, the gift received for believing in God and the work of his Son Jesus on the cross.  No this is a here-and-now definition of eternal life, the forever-continuing kingdom life that Jesus so often spoke of.  If my friend called me today to “get his answer”, this is what I would share with him.  His name is not perpetually on my lips because I don’t know Him as I should.

In this week’s parallel account, we meet a character that confronts Jesus with this question of eternal life.  He asks Jesus, “… what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?”  Now before I go on, I have to share how deeply I have been affected by the pattern I see in how Jesus answered people’s questions when he was here walking among us.  I have spent a great deal of time studying Jesus’ life and His never-failing way of seeing into someone’s heart and speaking directly to it.  Think of the Samaritan woman at the well and His deliberate use of the word “husband”.  Jesus told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” (John 4:16 NIV)  In doing so, He spoke directly to a deep wound that could be healed by the living water He was offering her.  Jesus could have said, “Go tell your friends and bring them all back” … but He didn’t.  In purposeful and deliberate language, He spoke directly to her need.

In answering the rich man’s question, Jesus spoke directly to his need as well.  He knew the rich man’s heart.  He knew the rich man was looking for a checklist … a checklist that stopped short of draining his possessions.  He knew the rich man was not willing to give up everything, so He gave him a list … a list that was missing one thing.  And when the rich man said (paraphrasing), ”I’ve done all that, are you sure there isn’t something else?”, Jesus went right to his need with his response.  “… If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matt 19:21 NIV)  The Bible then says, “When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matt 19:22 NIV)

The Samaritan woman went away rejoicing because Jesus spoke to her need and she released it to Him.  The rich man went away sad because Jesus spoke to his need and he held it tight.  The barrier to knowing Jesus and eternal life were his material wealth and possessions.  How about you?  Is there a barrier in your life to truly knowing Him and the experience of eternal life now?  For some it may be the possessions of the rich man, for others it may be the secrets of the Samaritan woman (and there are countless other barriers as well).

See and hear the caution in this week’s parallel focus on the rich man, but please don’t miss the hope and truth of the Samaritan woman’s response to Jesus.  Each new breath that God gives you carries with it the invitation to release your barriers to Jesus and allow him to heal you.  As you do, you will grow in knowing Him, and experience the eternal life that springs from it.

In a few days we will rightfully recognize and celebrate the fathers in our lives. In my research on the origins of Fathers Day, I found a few interesting facts and one significant thread amongst it’s 104 year storyline. First, the facts…

• The first recorded event to honor fathers was held in a West Virginia church on July 5th, 1908. It was a Sunday sermon in memory of 362 men who died the previous December in a coal mine explosion.
• A Spokane, Washington woman was the first to attempt to establish an official day to celebrate fathers (anything that needs to get done should be so lucky to be championed by a woman).
• In response, the Governor of the state of Washington was the first to proclaim the nation’s first “Father’s Day” on July 19, 1910.
• Father’s Day became an official national holiday in 1972, via a Presidential proclamation signed by Richard Nixon.

As I read through a web post on the History Channel website, I noticed an interesting thread that ran through the full Father’s Day story line. Here are a few additional facts that illustrate the thread I noticed…

• The Spokane woman who first championed the holiday went to local churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers and government officials in trying to gather support.
• The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers was not generally met with the same enthusiasm as that of Mother’s Day (established as a national holiday in 1908). A florist was quoted as saying “fathers haven’t the same sentimental appeal that mothers have.”
• In the 1920’s and 1930’s there was a movement to combine Mother’s and Father’s Day into a singular Parent’s Day. There were actually protests towards that end in New York City during that time. Interestingly, the Great Depression broke that movement and effort to de-commercialize the holidays.
• On the tail end of the Depression, struggling retailers and advertisers ramped up their efforts and sought to make Father’s Day into a “second Christmas” for men. In the 40’s, advertisers also used the war to argue for the importance of Father’s Day, honoring the troops and supporting the war effort.
• Economists estimate that Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts

I am sure that many of you have a sensitivity to the “Hallmark” holidays. I have caught myself once or twice questioning whether my wife would notice if I completely forgot Sweetest Day. We have a tendency as Americans to commercialize. And It was interesting, although not surprising to see that the economic engine “saved” Mother’s and Father’s day.

It is good, however, that our nation sets aside a day to honor mothers and fathers, and that we do so individually. It is biblical that we honor our mothers and fathers. Not just on one day of the year, but each and every day. It is the first commandment with a promise (Ephesians 6:2).

Let me also suggest that in preparation for this Father’s Day, you also consider honoring your Father in a purposeful and real way. How about practicing a genuine Sabbath? If your love language is gifts, give Him time with you; time in His word, talking with Him, just resting in His presence. We can be so conscious of keeping Christ in Christmas, but have we ever considered honoring our Father on Father’s Day? Join me in making it a new tradition. Spend time now considering what you will do Sunday. Set a reminder in your 2013 calendar for June 1st, and don’t miss it next year. Find a new way each year to honor and celebrate the One who breathed life into you, the One in whose image you were created.

Yes, we should honor Him in our everyday, and do so in the same spirit as obeying the first commandment with promise to honor our earthly fathers. But let’s make it a “both, and” sort of thing. Let’s also like the Old Testament feasts and festivals, take this one day and celebrate Him deliberately, joyfully and extravagantly.

An early Happy Father’s Day to all those men with children who are reading today, to their fathers, and our Father.

We are all confronted by this disease. We don’t like it, but no matter what we do it seems to creep into the deep recesses of our mind and rear its ugly head. Don’t worry; I am not saying we are all mentally ill. But we all do struggle with this common malady. So what is this devastating disease (excuse my overstatement)? Simply stated, it is caring too much about what others think of us. Without much effort, we all position ourselves to look the best, to receive praise, to be admired, to gain the attention of someone who we feel is very prominent and the list could go on…..And for what?  Because we all tend to struggle with being accepted, viewed in the best way and having value in the sight of others. We all care about what people are saying about us.

For all Christ-followers, value comes from Him, and our goal should be to reflect Him. In seeking value and self-worth in other ways, we will not reflect His grace, but our own pride. The critical issue is: not what people are saying about me, but who do people say that Christ is. That’s the eternal question. One day when Christ and the disciples were many miles removed from Jerusalem, in a region strongly identified with various religions, He initiates the discussion.

Matthew 16:13-17
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Peter confessed You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. In a land of various religions and pagan superstition, Peter confessed Christ. Today, we live in a world of various religions and the subtle philosophy that all roads lead to heaven. WRONG! Heaven is a destination that comes only through Christ. Paul, in Romans 10 declared: because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

If you have confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior, how are you reflecting Him? We all get caught up in that disease of positioning ourselves in the best way. But for Christ followers, the most important issue should never be: what are people saying about me, but am I reflecting who He is? … the Son of the living God, who died for our sins and rose again! There are absolutely people in your world that need the Savior. Be appropriately bold in declaring that there is only one way to heaven, through the Son of the living God.

Today, at work or at home (or where ever this article finds you) look around. Who do the people God has in front of your today say that Christ is? The answer to that question matters for their eternity. Is there someone you can pray for today, while reflecting the Truth and sharing His love?

The challenge/encouragement of what I have written today is directed to those who have already put their faith and trust in Jesus, and have accepted Him as their personal Savior.  But I would be wrong to miss the invitation to those who are reading who have not.  There is one who always accepts and loves you as you are.  The same one that gave his life for you.  The one who relentlessly pursues you in love.  That one is Jesus.  If you would like to know more about Jesus, his love for you and the relationship he so desperately wants with you, please contact us at journeyonwordwithus@gmail.com.

When is the last time you said, “WOW!  I can’t believe God just did that.” Although every Christian knows God is capable of moving mountains, I very rarely hear the word “WOW!” in relationship to a great God moment. We know from childhood the story of God stepping in for Abraham when he was ready to slay Isaac. Pastors paint great pictures of Red Sea moments, and all of us know about David slaying Goliath. You may be thinking, “I wish He would just one time move a mountain for me.” Remember, He knows about the mountains and He knows your life! I originally posted the attached story almost three years ago. Today, I was thinking that many of you (like me) may just need a good smile and reminder that God still does “WOW!” … even for us.

Saturday Night-WOW!

“On a Saturday night several weeks ago, this pastor was working late, and decided to call his wife before he left for home. It was about 10:00pm, but his wife didn’t answer the phone.

The pastor let the phone ring many times. He thought it was odd that she didn’t answer, but decided to wrap up a few things and try again in a few minutes. When he tried again she answered right away. He asked her why she hadn’t answered before, and she said that it hadn’t rung at their house. They brushed it off as a fluke and went on their merry ways.

The following Monday, the pastor received a call at the church office, which was the phone that He’d used that Saturday night. The man that he spoke with wanted to know why he’d called on Saturday night. The pastor couldn’t figure out what the man was talking about. Then the man said, “it rang and rang, but I didn’t answer.” The pastor remembered the mishap and apologized for disturbing him, explaining that he’d intended to call his wife.

The man said, ‘That is OK. Let me tell you my story. You see I was planning to commit suicide on Saturday night, but before I did, I prayed, “God if you’re there, and you don’t want me to do this, give me a sign now.” At that point my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID, and it said, ‘Almighty God’. I was afraid to answer!”

The reason it showed on the man’s caller ID as ‘Almighty God’ is because the church that the pastor leads is called Almighty God Tabernacle!!

I don’t know the origination of the story, or if it actually happened. It came as a forwarded message from my wife, which is the only reason I read it. But do I believe my Father might just step into someone’s Saturday night that way? Absolutely! Has your faith become so diminished and dull that the expectation for supernatural intervention is like “yeah, right.” ‘Almighty God’ may not show up on your caller ID, but the Almighty knows just how you need Him to show up. With a yielded heart, grow daily; with an expectant heart, pray fervently; and with a trusting heart, understand that God will intervene in your world as He chooses. Let Jeremiah give us a great perspective of our powerful God.

Jeremiah 32:17
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made
the heavens and the earth by your
great power and outstretched arm.
Nothing is too hard for you.

I don’t know how God may need to intervene in your life. But if your caller ID ever says ‘Almighty God’ … answer!  Nothing is too hard for Him, and He knows just when to call.

It all seems so simple. Just believe what Scripture says, apply it, and trust God for the results. There is no doubt that most readers of our articles believe Scripture. I am sure that you are willing to stand on the authority of God’s Word for life and eternal life.  But accepting His truth and trusting in the moment are often sources of conflict for all of us. Sourcing a simple, yet profound passage may give clarity to my premise. Wisdom from God is available for all Christ followers, but He gives conditions for wisdom’s direction.  You will find in this passage easy-to-believe words, with the capacity in Christ to apply them … so why don’t we trust them in the moment? Note the passage:

James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Life was so simple when our daughter was small. Trust was easy, and she didn’t have a reason not to trust her dad. However, her trust for dad came into great conflict when I started teaching her to swim and ride a bike. She still believed me, but emotions fought against her trust in dad’s words. She struggled with trusting me in the moment. The good news is … Her trust finally overcame her doubt and she began to ride her bike and swim.  And our quest for wisdom should be no different.  We can trust Him for wisdom, no matter how much our emotions fight us.

Set in the context of trials, James tells us that when wisdom is lacking, we should simply ask God for direction. Stop for just a moment and think of some specific trials in front of you this week. James is telling you to just ask God for wisdom, and believe that He will provide it. It may be difficult to wrap your arms around how God will choose to work in your particular circumstance, but that is not for you to worry about … just trust Him in each moment. God desires to give you His wisdom without finding fault … so why hesitate to ask? It may be that letting circumstances and emotional distrust override simple faith is thwarting your wisdom connection.

James gives us clear direction for seeking wisdom. If you are asking, believe that He will provide the needed wisdom. No Doubting! Instead of confidently seeking wisdom, the sad truth is many have mastered the discipline of doubting. Satan will continue to attack your thoughts with sometimes subtle, yet always deadly doubt.  But by a choice to submit your will, determine to believe that wisdom is available for every circumstance. Our Father understands the attacks, and will honor your trusting Him in the moment.

Without saying it, you may be thinking; you don’t know what I am up against!  And in your defense, I don’t.  And if this was about my words, or my challenge to you, then your thoughts might end my attempts to encourage you. Make no mistake however, God does know what you and I are up against and He will give us wisdom.  The Word gives us a clear pattern, with an undeniable promise. He will give us the needed wisdom. Don’t worry about tomorrow, just trust Him in the moment today. There will always be a new circumstance to confront, and wisdom will always be available to Christ followers who ask and don’t doubt. It is as easy as riding a bike!

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault….

You’ve been there. A long day of work, surrounded by people and not much down time for you. To top it off there are lots of needs around you, and when others have needs, it is just a given that you should respond (translated, what can you do for them). And besides the weariness of the day’s work and needs of the people around you, there are some self-centered companions in your midst. Nobody really asks how you are feeling (translated, nobody really cares), even though there are some great personal issues that are on your mind. Now at the end of your full to overflowing day, what should you do? My normal response after a day like this would be to collapse in my chair with the remote control  and spend a few hours of “me” time. The only way I want to answer my cell phone is if my wife, daughter or Jesus is calling. I bet you have had a day just like this. I have let my mind focus this week on what Jesus did after an extremely stressful day.

After getting away with His disciples, Jesus is confronted by a mass of people. We speak of the feeding of the 5,000, but that was just the men. Add the women and children who were undoubtedly there, and think of the potential crowd that was following after Jesus. He taught and healed and fed the audience. The heart of Christ was compassion on the crowd while His disciples wanted to send them away by late afternoon. He also was dealing with the loss of the man who baptized Him, John the Baptist. There can be no question that the load on God’s Son was pretty heavy. He obviously handled the day’s events with great patience and undeniable compassion. By comparison, any hard day that you and I experience pales in comparison this particular day for Christ. I bet He would have answered His cell phone (if they would have been invented) after a day like this. But it is what Christ did after the feeding of the 5,000 that has me thinking.

When the people finished eating, Christ sent the disciples away. He headed up the mountain to pray (and I wanted the remote control). He was alone on the mountain at evening, a period that covers from late afternoon to shortly after sunset. Studying this event informs us that He went to the disciples walking on the sea during the fourth watch of the night (3a.m.-6 a.m.). That tells me that He spent hours on the mountain communing with the Father. My mind has been questioning what He prayed about. Was it the crowd and their needs? Was it His disciples and their lack of understanding? Could it have been the weight of the cross He would eventually carry? I don’t exactly comprehend what He may have prayed about and for so long. But I know that God the Son felt the need to spend time with God the Father on this night. And I too often go for the remote control after a hard day.

If I may, let me be personal. You and I may have never met, but I care about you. And please don’t take my words to mean that you shouldn’t chill out after a hard day. But for Christ on this night there was a greater need than putting life on remote-control. He needed to talk to the Father.  And I believe that at least part of His communion was about people, maybe His disciples, maybe the crowd. There is someone in your life that desperately needs you to intercede to the Father for them. Granted it is hard work, but God honors a praying heart. I find it too easy to breathe obligatory prayers heavenward, without communing with my Father. And you may also!  Christ spent time on that mountain praying for a reason, and we can only imagine the benefits of that night.

I will always like my remote control. But someone needs me to be praying for their needs. And who is the Father challenging you to pray for? Take a look at Christ on that mountain, follow His lead by spending time with the Father, and be used for eternal good.

A friend shared with me yesterday that he was taking his kids to a thrill a minute amusement park on Memorial Day. He loves the thrill of dropping 200 feet in a moment’s time, or having his body twisted 360 degrees several times on a quick roller coaster ride. I quite frankly don’t share his love of dare-devil adventures. To be honest, I am a chicken. It must be my control issues, but I have never relished putting my body in harm’s way just for the thrill of it. Water skiing, sky diving, roller coasters, snow skiing and anything else that frightens me, long ago left my bucket list. Now don’t be thinking that my parents dropped me on my head as a child and created such fears. I created them on my own, and I am a chicken who is comfortable in his own skin. This morning, I read of a man, who if living today would probably love all the adventures that I shy away from.

You know the man. His name was Peter, and he tended to draw attention to himself by the radical things he said and did. The occasion of my reading was after Jesus had fed the five thousand and gone up into a mountain to pray. He had instructed his disciples to cross over a lake, and can you believe it….a storm came up. It seems they were continually being trained to trust Him. Christ eventually came to the boat walking on the water. The Matthew account of this scene gives us a picture of Peter’s radical nature.

Matthew 14:24-29 (MSG)
Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.”   Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” 

Peter boldly gets to walk on water. Even though I want to live with vibrant faith, I probably wouldn’t have asked to come out onto the water. But Peter did, and wow….he got to walk on water. I wonder what I have missed in my life by staying in the boat too often. How about you? You and I will never walk on water, but by faith we can see God do what we never thought possible. I personally want to live with a faith that causes me to step beyond what I can see, and then trust Him for the results. From my experience, it’s the best way to live. We can easily ridicule Peter for many things, but courage isn’t one of them.

But then Peter did what I probably would have done. After the miracle of walking on the water to Jesus, he looked at his circumstances (waves churning beneath his feet), and started to sink. Have you ever experienced a time of living by faith, only to let your circumstances cause your faith to become fear? Why did Peter look down, and why do we let our circumstances overwhelm the courage of our faith. Peter probably never forgot the moment he went from walking on the water to sinking with doubt. And you and I have regrets that were caused by doubting the power of God to lead us.

So how do we have the courage of Peter to get out of the boat, and a faith that doesn’t let circumstances cause us to sink? My theory is: If you want to walk on water without sinking, keep your eyes firmly planted on Christ. Look away, even for just a moment and the waves of life can overwhelm you with doubt. As you start a new week, what are you looking at? If your circumstances are distracting you, refocus immediately, and let Christ’s miraculous power guide you today.