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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 29, 2005 STEPS |
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Frontline Devotion for Saturday, January 29, 2005 By
Penny Risen
Matthew
14: 22-33
If your toddler could have spoken when you first urged him or her to walk, what
do you think he’d have said?
“Mommy, you’re crazy -- leave this great world of carpets and flooring?”
your baby whines. “Why are you asking me to do this? Hands and knees work
great! Besides, why stand when crawling gets me where I want to go.”
And you reply gently, “Baby, I know it’s tough, but walking has its advantages. Besides, I know you can do it! Have faith and I’ll hang onto your hand.”
What Jesus asked his outspoken disciple Peter wasn’t much different. At that moment, what He told this simple fisherman to do must have seemed bizarre.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go
on ahead of Him to the other side … When evening came, He
was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable
distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind
was against it. Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
‘It's a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus said to them:
‘Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it's you,’ Peter replied,
tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ He said. Then Peter got
down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink,
cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.
‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’ And when they climbed
into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat
worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ “
Peter’s walk with Jesus as his Savior was just beginning and would take many more tricky and dangerous turns. Peter would face many more times when Jesus challenged him to be bold and to take a leap of faith to further their mission. Peter also would falter and sink back from what Jesus asked of him, even denying that he was a follower of Christ. But Peter hung onto his belief that Jesus and the Spirit would be with him, to guide him when he was afraid or unsure. His steps became steadier, like a child’s; Peter became a brave, upright man, and a tireless champion of God’s Word and the promise of salvation.
Every day and step by step, we can learn something new in our walk with God.
Like churning waters, our sins and troubles threaten to overtake us. Our busy
lives swamp our boat, making us think there’s no way to find peace. We
sometimes find that folks around us do little or care less to pull us to safety.
But Our Lord always is there to take our hand, if we reach for Him. He picks us
up when we fall. He knows where our journey will lead us, even when we have
little confidence in finding our balance. He calls us, “Child, step forward in
faith.”
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, help me to reach for You when I’m unsure or afraid. Thank you for giving me Your Word, teaching me how faith in You helped the disciples overcome doubt. Amen.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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