The Peril of the Open Door

"But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,

because a great door for 

effective work has opened to me,

and there are many who oppose me.

. . .Be on your guard; 

stand firm in the faith;

be men of courage;

be strong.

Do everything in love."

1 Corinthians 16:8-9, 13-14

She seemed to be out to get me.  I couldn't understand why another believer would react with such a severe intensity.  After all, we were on the same team, weren't we?  God had opened an amazing door to share the gospel with middle school girls, but she seemed to be using her authority and position of power to make sure that didn't happen.

Paul experienced much the same thing when an opening presented itself for sharing the gospel.  The natural instinct is to go into fight mode, setting up a perimeter and putting up my guard.  In God's kingdom, however, business is handled differently.  Instead of defending my rights, arguing my case, and fighting for what is right, God has a distinct way for His people to go forth against this kind of opposition.

Stand Firm in Faith

He was zealous for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  His eagerness to share this joy overflowing from the hope that comes through the gift of salvation found by faith in Christ was extinguished by a dose of reality.  Some deceivers had wormed their way into the Body of believers, spreading a false doctrine. (Jude 3-4)  

This same belief confronting Jude exists today.  Some think the grace God so freely offers gives us license to live an immoral life.  Since the blood of Jesus covers my sin, so the thinking goes, then why should I worry about turning from my sinful ways?  This is commonly called, "cheap grace," and denies the severity of the sacrifice Jesus made for my sin.  It shows a blatant disregard for the suffering Jesus willingly underwent for my sake.

To stand firm means I must not waver from the truth of the gospel of grace.  I am saved so that I can live a holy life that is pleasing to God. (1 Peter 1:16)  Not that I am able to live a perfectly sin-free life, but that it must be my desire to turn away from the sin that plagues me.

On the other side of the coin is a completely opposite fallacy that is also prevalent in churches today.  Some feel the need to place a heavy burden upon followers of Christ that we must follow the letter of the law.  This, too, goes against the gospel of grace in that we are saved out of no doing of our own. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  

Followers of this mindset are taking a risk of becoming like the hypocritical Pharisees who expected more from others than they were able to do themselves.  None is able to keep the law perfectly.  If we were, there would be no need for Christ. (Galatians 2:21)

Both fallacies deny the power of the cross.  It is important to stand firm and insist on the preaching of our salvation only through the blood of Jesus.   As Paul said, "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."  (1 Corinthians 2:2)

When people come against the work of the Gospel in my life, stand firm in the truth of the crucifixion of Christ.

Be Courageous and Strong

They were thrown in jail for preaching the Gospel, performing miraculous signs, healing people and casting out evil spirits.  Many came to faith in Christ because of their faithfulness.  As the crowds grew, the Jewish leaders grew worried, jealous of their popularity.  Consequently, they felt it necessary to stifle the enthusiasm that was growing in the midst of Peter and the other apostles.  Spending some time in jail just might do the trick.

That first night behind bars, though, an angel of the Lord opened the doors and delivered them from confinement.  This heavenly messenger also gave them marching orders, "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."  Obeying such an order, knowing the result could be harsher treatment, took courage and strength.  (Acts 5:17-21)

I, too, am called to speak the truth with boldness in a world that rejects the message of the gospel as foolishness.  (Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 1:18)  Instead of acting timidly, I can take a lesson from Peter and go forward with the kind of faith that believes God will bring about a change in the hearts of those who hear.

When people come against the work of the Gospel in my life I can "be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." (Ephesians 6:10)

Do Everything in Love

His nickname means, "Son of Encouragement." (Acts 4:36)  He was known for believing the best of people, patiently bearing with them in service and kindly offering words of support and inspiration.  Barnabas took seriously the commandment to love one another and beautifully demonstrated how to follow the way of love. (John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 14:1)

When Satan raises people up against what God is doing in my life, my first impulse is to rise to meet them in battle.  If I am to let the love of Christ rule in my heart, however, I will see the battle as belonging to the Lord.  Then, I am freed up to allow His love to flow through me.

Think of the people in northern India who spend hours a day carrying water from the river to their home.  Disease and sickness runs rampant as water supplies are not clean.  Christians are persecuted, made to wait until everyone else has received their fair share before they can fill their buckets.  Violence is a way of life for these believers, but all they want is to share the love of Jesus in a tangible way with those who attack them.

God answered their prayers and provided wells through a ministry called Living Water International.  The clean water now available to those who previously persecuted the Christians, confused yet attracted them to the love of God.

There is no greater testimony to the Gospel of Christ than by showing love to my enemies.  Those who rise up against me will not be able to deny the power behind a surprising act of compassion.

When people come against the work of the Gospel in my life I can choose to walk in the way of love.

It can be discouraging to see a door fling wide open for the effective work of God but have someone actively work against it.  Instead of fighting the opposition, though, I can stand firm in faith and be strong and courageous, doing it all with the love of Christ.  Even though there is peril to be found in the open door, God is faithful to accomplish what He set out to do.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will look for ways to love others.

When do I tend to go with my first instinct and fight, instead of looking for ways to love?

How am I prone to silence my voice when opposition rises against the Gospel?

Been With Jesus

"'Salvation is found in no one else,

for there is no other name under heaven

given to men by which we must be saved.'

When they saw the courage of Peter and John

and realized that they were

 unschooled,

ordinary men,

they were astonished

and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Acts 4:12-13

Peter and John were ordinary fishermen; men who earned their living by the labor of their hands and the brawn of their backs.  Fishing was a profitable industry, but not glamorous or enviable by any means.  These men were called by Jesus to be His disciples.  They spent time with Him, learning from Him and growing to love Him.  When Jesus returned to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father, they received His Spirit as a comforter, counselor and guide. (Acts 2:38-39) 

God's Spirit does more than just make me feel assured of my salvation, (John 15:26-27) He also gives me what I need to do what He's called me to do.  God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. (Hebrews 13:20-21)  Before Peter and John could realize the power God placed within them, they had to take a step of faith, trusting that God's Spirit would not let them down.  When they did, what they found coming from within them astounded everyone.

Courage

I remember the time one of my daughters stood up to the ice cream man who had just called her sister "fat."  At the age of 6, she respectfully told him that what he had said was not nice and that he should be ashamed that he had hurt her sister's feelings.  Standing up to an adult took courage.

In the same way, Peter and John courageously stood up to the power structure, speaking the unwelcome truth to the rulers, elders and teachers of the law.  They didn't have the authority of any man to speak in such a way to that prestigious group.  I might even call them "cheeky" or "sassy."  It took a lot of nerve to rock the boat in such a way.

There are times when the Holy Spirit gives me courage to speak out against injustice.  Sometimes it could be I'm called to write a letter to the editor of my local paper, taking a stand for Christ.  Other times, I could speak the truth to a professor attempting to undermine God's sovereignty.  Or, God could give me the boldness to speak the truth in love to an outspoken coworker who pushes her atheistic agenda.

God's Spirit equips me with courage to speak up in the face of opposition.

Wisdom

It is said that wisdom comes with age, but God says it starts with a healthy respect and reverence for Him. (Psalm 111:10)  Peter and John were both common men who lacked any kind of formal education.  They were probably able to speak several languages in order to trade fish with the variety of people they dealt with in the marketplace, and they needed a working knowledge of money and trading to succeed in their business, but for the most part they were ordinary, working-class men.

Listening to them reason and lecture, however, the people had a different perspective.  Peter and John spoke as if they were proficient in philosophy, history and the art of deliberation.  They sounded as if they had trained under the best teachers money could buy.  Who were these men?

All those who questioned needed to know was who they had been with. Jesus gave them all the wisdom they needed to discuss deeply theological matters.  It's the same with me.  I don't need to take a special class or receive expert training to certify me as qualified to talk to others about my faith.  All I need is Jesus: He will equip me as I read His word, interpreting it and revealing truth as I trust Him to teach me.  Then, when I'm faced with those who have questions, He'll provide the answers if I rely on Him; His words will flow from me.  (Luke 12:11-12)

God's Spirit equips me with wisdom to speak the truth to a dark world.

Anointing

It's easy to think that someone who does extraordinary things is himself extraordinary.  The truth is, however, that God is the source of all amazing things.  Each of us is capable of doing the same as Moses, Elijah, David or Paul did because it was God who was working through them.  He set them aside for His purposes, using them as a vessel of His Spirit to accomplish His good purposes. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

Peter and John were not special or different than you or me.  The only thing enabling them to accomplish such astonishing feats as to leave the Jewish ruling council speechless was God's Spirit.  All He needs is a willing container which He can fill with His power.  If I submit to Him and allow Him to use me, I'll witness astounding deeds that only can be attributed to God.

I'll be able to speak clearly even though I stutter.  I'll suddenly lose my aversion to children and draw them to Jesus as if I were some kind of modern-day Pied Piper even though I never thought of being a teacher.  I'll gain a new appreciation for God's Word and a heart for those who desire to know and understand God's ways even though I never did well in school.  In short, when I trust in God, He'll set me aside for the work He's prepared for me to do.

God's Spirit equips me with an anointing to accomplish His purpose for my life.

Peter and John stood out as extraordinary even though they were ordinary fishermen.  In the same way, when I trust in Jesus as Lord of my life, He'll give me courage to do the impossible, wisdom beyond my education level, and an anointing that enables me to walk the path He has for me.  If I've been with Jesus, He'll call me, and then He'll equip me.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to give me what I need to accomplish His purposes for my life.

How do I doubt what God can do in my life by hesitating to step out in faith?

When do I fear my lack of training will hold me back from doing what God has put in my heart to do?

Evidence of Faith

"The Jews replied,

'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,

and you are going to raise it in three days?'

But the temple he had spoken of was his body.

After he was raised from the dead,

his disciples recalled what he had said.

Then they believed the Scripture 

and the words that Jesus had spoken."

John 2:20-22

When a tree falls in the forest and no one is around, does it still make a sound?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Why am I here?

Some questions makes us think.  Others stimulate deep reflection and inner scrutiny.  One such question is, "What is faith?"  We know the definition of faith as given in Hebrews 11:1.  "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

But how do I know if my faith is real?  I do believe that God is in control of all things and that He directs my footsteps when I submit myself to Him, but how do I know my faith is authentic and not just so many words?  Where is the evidence?

Jesus often said, "Oh you of little faith" to those who knew him best: His disciples.  He said it when they were in the boat tossed around by the waves, (Matthew 8:26) when Peter walked on the water but then began to sink (Matthew 14:31), and when the disciples didn't understand Jesus' warning of the dangers of believing in the Pharisee's teachings (Matthew 16:8).  The disciples knew Jesus, trusted Him enough to leave their livelihoods and follow Him, yet were told their faith was lacking. 

The proof that my faith is real is manifested in my actions, not my words.  Faith without works is dead.  (James 2:17)  I show that my faith is real by what I do, not what I say or believe.  If I truly trust God, my life will look different that those whose faith is not authentic.

Obedience without Foresight

He gathered the materials according to the detailed blueprint.  His whole family joined in the project, working together to accomplish the mission.  The structure was massive and garnered the attention of many.

"Watcha' building, huh?  Some kind of boat?  I hate to tell you, but there's no water for miles around!  What a fool!"

The rumors spread. "He's crazy!  Have you heard about his wife?  She's as loony as he is!  She must be to put up with that mess.  Whose ever heard of such a thing?"

Years past by and the man grew older, but the ridicule never ended.  He was tempted to doubt, wondering if God really knew what He was talking about.  What is the plan?  A hundred years have gone by and I've never seen a drop of rain.  What if I was wrong and God didn't really tell me to build an ark?  

Still, Noah stayed faithful and obeyed despite his lack of understanding, his narrow vision, and shortsightedness.  He didn't know how it would all turn out, but he trusted that God knew.  But he didn't let his faith stop at words or beliefs.  Instead, he turned them into action in the form of obedience.

God is calling me to do something. He has put a burden on my heart for a hurting person or group of people.  He has convicted me of an area of sin.  He has prompted me to turn a corner and begin a new thing.  What I do next tells me everything I need to know about the validity of my faith.

If I reach out to comfort and encourage without knowing how I'll be received, my faith is real.  If I turn away from that sin despite my flesh fighting against that decision, my faith is true.  If I take a risk and step into the light of the new thing God is doing, my faith is authentic.

The proof that my faith exists is revealed in my willingness to obey without knowing the details, seeing the big picture, or perceiving the outcome.

Perseverance despite Discouragement

Won't these people ever get it?  They are a hard-headed bunch!  They have seen God deliver them, save them and provide for them, yet they refuse to stay true to God.  Why do I even try?

Moses was the one called to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and through a journey that included 40 years of wandering in the desert.  He was considered to be a friend of God  (Exodus 33:11), but did not get to see the promised land because of his disobedience on the occasion of drawing water from the rock of Meribah.(Numbers 20:12)

Moses kept faithful to God throughout years of complaining, bickering and grumbling.  Even when it seemed no one else cared, Moses continued pointing people to God.  It must have been discouraging to be surrounded by people just like you and me!  I am easily drawn into negative thinking about my circumstances.

When I am working on a mission or project, I am easily discouraged by a lack of results.  Maybe that's why I like mowing the lawn.  As I circle around the yard, I see the effect of my effort: The grass begins to look neat and trimmed.  But life in general is not this way.  I clean the dishes only to turn around for a moment and find another sink-full of soiled plates and cups.  I teach a lesson only to have to reinforce it again and again, wondering if the young mind will ever absorb the message.  I fill the tank up with gas only to see the needle move toward empty a few days later. Does anything I ever do stay done?

I can take heart and remember that God is at work even when I can't see the evidence.  When He places me in a position, no matter how small or inconsequential it may seem, it means a lot to God.  Keeping my eyes on Him when everything around me seems hopeless is proof of that my faith is genuine.

The proof that my faith exists is manifested in my ability to persevere despite the lack of encouraging works, evidence of changed lives, or even a vision of God's greater purpose.

Hopes beyond all Hope

She planned her life.  She desired to live a life pleasing to God, above all things.  Her family had promised her to an upstanding young man.  Then came the news.  She was pregnant.  The angel told her this would happen, but what would everyone say?  How would they treat her?  How could she ever hold her head high again?

Mary was chosen to carry the Christ child.  Despite the fact that she played a pivotal role in history, it came at great sacrifice to her own personal life.  An unmarried  pregnant woman of that time would have been considered to be an outcast.  Mary and Joseph knew the truth of God's plan, but no one else did apart from her cousin Elizabeth.  

The faith of Mary propelled her forward as she hoped against all hope in the One True God and His plan.  Many times my life looks crazy compared to the lives of those around me.  The decisions I make look reckless and foolish.  I seem to be dancing to the beat of my own drummer.

My faith, however, is shown to be real when I follow God's calling even if it makes me look like a fool in my community.  My faith is demonstrated as valid when I stay true to the narrow, rocky path God leads me on even when it passes by the edge of a dangerous precipice.  My faith is shown as authentic when I keep hoping in God's way even when everyone else is going a different direction.

The proof that my faith exists is manifested in my motivation to keep hope alive even when the odds are against me, it's never been done this way before, or I look different than everyone else.

Faith that is real doesn't need evidence.  Instead, faith that is authentic exists despite the lack of miracles, healings or other spectacular feats.  I know that my faith is real only by examining my actions.  When I obey despite the lack of foresight, persevere even though I'm discouraged, and hope beyond all hope, then my actions are proving my faith. This is the evidence of faith.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God despite what I see with my eyes.

How do I trust my senses more than I trust God?

When am I so discouraged that I give up?

Loving with Abandon

The Word of the Lord came to me:

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

‘I remember the devotion of your youth,

how as a bride you loved me

and followed me through the desert,

through a land not sown.’”

Jeremiah 2:2

I remember when I first met my husband.  I was a college student and he was a soldier serving at an army post 6 hours away.  I would wake up thinking about him, getting a little thrill in the pit of my stomach at the thought of him.  Every time the phone rang, I hoped it was him.  As I walked to class, I imagined I saw him even though he was miles away. 

Even after we married and raised four children, my heart jumps when I see him and I can’t think of anyone with whom I’d rather spend time.  I am in love with my husband!

Am I in love with Jesus, wanting nothing more than to spend time with Him and please Him with the little things I do throughout the day?  Or am I in love with what He has done for me, thankful that He sacrificed His life so that I can live forever, but not really treasuring Him as my Savior?

Maybe I’m too uptight, but loving Jesus with abandon is hard for me.   Jesus wants all of me: my heart, my mind, my life.  But all too often I focus on what I can do for Him out of a sense of duty, or an expectation of what I think a “good Christian” should do, or out of gratefulness for what He’s done for me.

If I performed little acts of kindness to my husband for these same reasons, I don’t think it would mean as much to him as if I did them out of devotion to him, desiring to please him and bring him pleasure.  So why do I have a hard time abandoning myself in pure devotion to my Savior? 

Fear

I am a fearful creature.  I am hesitant to put myself into a situation where I don’t know the outcome.  Even though only God truly knows how things will turn out, I have deceived myself into believing that I have some semblance of control and I consequently make choices according to what is comfortable or familiar to me.

But this is not how to live a life abandoned to Christ.  When Peter jumped out of the boat to walk toward his beloved Jesus, he did so out of pure devotion without a second thought toward what might be the consequences of his actions.  All he knew was that he saw Jesus and he wanted to go to him.

As long as Peter kept his eyes trained upon the One he loved, he was able to walk on the water.  But as soon as he turned his attention to the waves crashing around him, he lost faith and gave into his fear, sinking down into the depths of the sea.

Loving Jesus means keeping my attention upon Him, not on my circumstances, problems or surroundings.  If I only had eyes for Him, my love for Him would grow.

To love Jesus with abandon, I must turn from my fears and desire Him only.

Misunderstanding Love

As a sinful human living in a fallen world, I don’t really understand God’s love.  Love in my world is conditional, coming and going in direct proportion to my behavior.  Love in my world is a physical love, tied closely to romance or sentiment toward a parent or child.  Love in my world is shallow, based mostly on feelings.

God’s love is different.  His love is not based on my performance but on His character.   It does not come and go with the changing seasons, but as David said in Psalm 138:8, “your love, O Lord, endures forever—“

The love of God is not a physical thing but is His defining feature.   1 Corinthians 13:4-8 lists the qualities of His love as patience and kindness.  His kind of love contains no envy, boasting, pride, rudeness, or seeking of selfish desires.  God’s love is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, and always celebrates the truth, shunning evil.  God’s love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.  God’s love never fails.

God’s love is deep.  The Apostle Paul’s desire for the believers in Ephesus was that they would, “have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Understanding this love gives me insight into how I can love Jesus His way.  Just as He chose to demonstrate His love for me by dying on the cross while I was still deep in my sin,  I can choose to demonstrate my love for Him in a real, tangible way by loving those around me, especially the ones who live a life deep in sin, rendering them unlovable.

Myself

I may be the biggest obstacle to loving Jesus without inhibition.  If I am honest with myself, I am very important to me!  My desires, my comfort and my plans matter to me.  In fact, I could even go so far as to say that they matter more to me than anything else.

To love Jesus supremely as the Lord of my life, I cannot cater to my needs as I tend to.  Instead,  I need to do as Peter advised in 1 Peter 3:15.  He said that in my heart I should, “. . .set apart Christ as Lord.”

If I exchange Jesus for myself as the one who is most important and lord of my life, then I will be able to love Him in the way He designed me to love.

In order to give myself in devotion to my Savior I must first let go of the fear that grips me, understand His kind of love and pass that love on to others, and take myself out of the position as lord of my life and put Jesus in that place.  Then I can love Jesus with abandon!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can give Jesus my first, my best and my all.

How do my own selfish desires get in the way of Jesus’ longing to truly reign in my life?

What fears are holding me back from loving Jesus?

Church Wars

"The LORD is good to all;
   he has compassion on all he has made."

Psalm 145:9

As a white woman married to a black man, I have seen all kinds of churches.  Little country churches in the backwoods of Mississippi and huge cathedrals in the center of sprawling metropolises.  I've seen how people of different backgrounds worship, and the diverse beliefs about who God is and how His people fit into His kingdom.   Some are pompous and arrogant, some are humble and modest.  Most are somewhere in between.  No matter what our beliefs, the Lord is good to each and every one of us.  If God does not discriminate, why do we?

Background   Humans tend to flock together with birds of a feather.  I am drawn to those who look like me, share the same beliefs as me, and who share a similar background as me.  But this is contrary to the teaching of the first church.  Peter, one of the leaders of the first church, also held this same belief due to years of following the Old Testament rules of purity.   Peter had been taught to keep away from certain foods which would make him unclean.  Since Gentiles, or anyone who was not Jewish,  regularly consumed many of these foods, Peter had been conditioned not to eat with non-Israelites.  The thing was, God was about to send Peter out to preach the Gospel to these "unclean" Gentiles. God gave Peter a vision that made it clear that under the new covenant, the old laws no longer applied and that he was ". . not (to) call anything impure that God has made clean." (Acts 10:15)  Peter went on to preach, saying, “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right."(v 34-35) Today's church, or Body of Christ, is made up of people from all backgrounds and nations. I should not get caught up in old prejudices and attitudes, but worship together as God intended; blind to color, ethnicity and culture.

Bias  I grew up with a certain style of worship and preaching, and it is easy for me to think this is the only and best way of worship and preaching.  Thankfully, it's not the style that matters, but the One whom we are gathered to worship that is of the utmost importance.  Paul, in teaching about living as children of light in a dark world, said to,  ". . .be filled with the Spirit,  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,  always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20) It's about Him, not about me and my biases.  I can use any method to worship as long as my heart is focused on glorifying God! 

Beliefs  "Don't play cards."  "No Fishing on Sunday."  "Don't listen to secular music."  "No yardwork on Sunday."  It is so easy to become like the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Jesus' time who came up with all these rules to "help people to follow God's law."  The problem was, it put a heavy burden on the people who thought they had to do what the leaders said as well as what God said.  Since Jesus set us free from the burden of the law; we know we are not saved by following the law.  This is because no one is able to follow the law in it's entirety.  But many times, I carry around these weird human beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation.  I'm sure you can add a few to the list above.  Paul taught that,  “ 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive.  Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."  (I Corinthians 10:23-24)  Instead of focusing on what I think I should and should not do in order to make myself more holy, I should instead focus on what is good for those who are watching and for those I live with.  But most of all, I should seek to glorify God in all that I do (including where I choose to worship), and not worry about silly old beliefs. 

Do I focus too much on my own background, biases and beliefs which keeps me from worshipping in spirit and in truth, as Christ intended?  

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I may let go of those things that keep me from really hearing a message you are sending through a person that looks, sounds and acts different from me. 

How am I pre-judging without even realizing it?


Where am I holding onto old beliefs that are not based on the scriptures?

Perfect Love

"Such love has no fear,

because perfect love expels all fear.

If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment,

and this shows that we have not fully experienced

his perfect love." 

I John 4:18 NLT

There are so many things in this world that can draw me into a state of fear.  I often fear what may happen in the future, what people might be thinking, or how someone may react.  Fear is a common human emotion, but it can cripple and render a believer helpless. So common is fear that you might be surprised at the men of faith who experienced periods of fear in their lives.

Sinking  Peter, along with the disciples of Jesus, had just experienced the miracle of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish to feed a crowd of five thousand.  Jesus retreated to a place of solitude as the rest of the group crossed the lake in a boat.  As Jesus later walked on water toward them, they were all gripped with fear, but Jesus reassured them:  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) Immediately, Peter asked Jesus to confirm his identity by asking him, a mere human, to walk on water!  When Jesus said, "Come," Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on water.  But as soon as he turned his focus from the one he loved, toward the threatening waves, he began to sink.  As Jesus reached out to pull Peter up, He asked, “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (verse 31)

Run for your life  Elijah was one of the greatest men of faith, proclaiming a period of drought which would only end at his word, healing a widow's son, and boldly showing God's power against 450 prophets of Baal.  After these amazing feats of faith, Elijah fled for fear of losing his life at the hand of the evil and powerful Jezebel, wife of Ahab the king of Judah,. (I Kings 18-19) 

Deception  Abraham, the chosen father of many nations who couragously left the land of his father and obediently traveled to a land he did not know, was plagued with fear at times.  He claimed his wife Sarah to be his sister out of fear that the reigning king of the region would kill Abraham and claim her as his own.  And he did this not once, but twice! (Genesis 12, 20)

Panic  How did these men of great faith who had witnessed mighty acts of God fall into a state of panic, driving them to sink, run and deceive?  They were human just like me and you.  No one is immune to fear, but we do not have to be ruled by fear.

Faith  There is a saying of unknown origin that goes, "Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered.  No one was there."  Faith is an antidote to fear.  Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus and instead focused on the threat of danger all around him. He began to doubt that Jesus could enable him to walk on water and started to instead believe that the waves would overtake him.  This is how I many times feel in life when I forget that Jesus can deliver me from the cares of this world.   I can ward off fear by choosing to trust in Jesus.

Love  Sometimes I fear what others will do to me, or think of me, because I know only too well the state of the human heart.  But love is an antidote to fear.  Fear is based on a faulty understanding of God's love.  When I truly grasp, "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,  and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that (I) may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,"  (Ephesians 3:18b-19) then I will not fear.  I can ward off fear by choosing to rest in the completeness of God's love instead of wallowing in the shallowness of my own feeble humanity.

Choice  Fear is inevitable, but I do not have to let it rule my life.  Instead, I can choose to keep my eyes on Jesus, and seek to comprehend the abundance of God's love.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will not let fear rule my life.

Where am I afraid to follow Jesus?

In what ways do I let fear cripple me?

The God of Second Chances

New Growth   The other day I noticed something peculiar on the tree that had been half-way devoured by tent caterpillars (see "Take Him Seriously" posted on November 1, 2011).  New leaves are forming on some of the bare branches!  Even though I came dangerously close to causing the demise of my favorite tree by disregarding expert advice and instead taking the easy way, God is giving me, and this tree, a second chance!

Pride    There are many instances recorded in the Bible when God gave one of His people another chance after a big blunder.  One that comes to mind is Moses.  "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend." (Exodus 33:11)  This guy was pretty close to God!  But toward the end of the Israelites' time of wandering in the desert, Moses messed up pretty bad.  Not only did he disregard the specific instructions of God, to speak to the rock in order to bring forth water from within, but he took credit for the miracle, asking the people, "must we bring you water out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:6-13, emphasis mine)  This act of disobedience lost him the chance to enter into the promised land, but God still listened to his prayers (see Numbers 21:7-9) and considered Moses to be the leader of His people.

All is Not Lost  What about David, the man God considered to be one after His own heart? (Acts 13:22)  He fell big time when he took another man's wife, slept with her, killed her husband and took her as his own wife.  He lived in this deceptive state of sin for about a year before God sent Nathan to show him the truth.  After David repented and returned to the Lord, God gave him a second chance.  Even though there were many consequences to his sin, such as the death of his son and strife in his family, David was forgiven by God through the prophet Nathan and given another son, Solomon, who succeeded David as king. (2 Samuel 12:13, 24-25)

The Rock   When Jesus walked the earth, Peter was perhaps his most zealous disciple.  He claimed he would die for Jesus!  But when push came to shove and Jesus was standing accused before the Jewish leaders, Peter acted as if he didn't know his beloved friend, and even denied his name! (Matthew 26:69-75)  All was not lost, however, because Peter became one of the most influential leaders of the first church, preaching, healing and performing miracles in the power of God's Spirit. (see the book of Acts) Why would the Lord use such a seemingly spineless man unless He was a God of second chances?

As human beings, we are going to disobey, mess up and think that things will never be the same with God.  Don't believe it!  The One who made you and calls you by name is a God who gives second, third and fourth chances.  After all, He is all about our heart. 

"The LORD does not look at the things people look at.

People look at the outward appearance,

but the LORD looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will hold a higher view of the grace and mercy of our Creator. 

Where do I need a second chance?

Where do I need to extend a second chance to others?