GraceCreates

By Jon Walker

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:29–31 (HCSB)

The disciples are over a mile from shore as a violent storm moves across the Sea of Galilee. All eyes are on a ghostly figure walking toward their boat. And then Jesus, walking on the water, says, “It is I.”

Bold and brash, Peter says, “Lord, if it is you, then command me to come to you on the water!”

Jesus tells Peter to come, and so the disciple steps out of the boat. He’s actually walking on the water toward Jesus! But then he remembers the storm, and he looks around at waves that seem to be taller than his own height; he hears the wind howling like a freight train coming down the track.

He begins to sink into the stormed-battered sea, over a mile from shore, several feet from the boat, but within arm’s length of Jesus, who catches hold of Peter, keeping him from sinking.

Jesus says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

How do you read the words of Jesus? Do you hear them as an angry rebuke, or do you hear as if they were said by a loving father, who’s just seen his small child walk for the first time?

What does this mean?

• Jesus is for you, not against you – Can you imagine a father, watching his child walk for the very first time, becoming angry because the young one stumbles and falls after just two steps? The father is for the child, encouraging each new step, ready to catch hold of the baby if she/he starts to fall. Jesus wants you to succeed when you step out in faith. He is pleased when you take steps of faith, no matter how small.
• In faith, believe Jesus is for you – Your next step of faith may be to believe, in faith, that Jesus is for you as you step out of the boat of self-reliance. If you struggle to believe Jesus is for you, and not against you, ask God to show you why? What are the roots to this perception of God-against-you? I believe, Lord; help my unbelief.
• Jesus is there to catch hold of you – If your faith falters, Jesus will reach out his hand to steady you. (Matthew 14:29–31, HCSB)

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

By Jon Walker

“But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.” Matthew 14:24 (HCSB)

Jesus needed time to refresh and so he sent his disciples on ahead, across the Sea of Galilee in one of their fishing boats. But storms sweep across this inland sea like tornados that emerge from nowhere.

And now the disciples were in a fight with the Goliath-like forces of nature. Some of the disciples were fishermen. They understood the danger, and so they fought the storm long and hard, but made little headway.

It was three o’clock in the morning, that no-man’s-land time of day when you haven’t yet escaped the night, but you still haven’t crossed into morning. It’s the kind of time when you wonder if you’ll even make it through until sunrise.

The Golan Heights, rising from the water like a wall within a quarry, are hard to distinguish against a sky so dark and drench. They’re over a mile from shore, and the water is transforming into an evil presence, so deep and so menacing.

And just then, someone on the boat yells, “Look! What is that? It looks like a man, but it just can’t be.” Before he’s even finished saying them, his words disappear into the wailing wind. But no one has to say anything else. All eyes are on this ghostly figure walking toward them like an incarnation of the storm!

And then Jesus says, “It is I.” (v. 27)

What does this mean?

• Jesus or the boat? – When faced with such a situation, where is the safest place to be? In the boat or in the arms of Jesus?
• Jesus peace – Logic tells us we’re safer in the boat; but the Bible tells us we’re safer in the arms of Jesus, the Lord and Master over the storm. He offers a peace that passes all understanding.

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

By Jon Walker

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)

The Bible doesn’t tell us to just get along with other believers. Even the worst of enemies can bury their differences for a short time and be cordial toward one another for a mutual goal or benefit.

But God calls us to a higher standard: “Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.” (Philippians 2:2 NLT)

Our testimonies are validated by how we get along with other believers – that is, how we get along with each other in our congregations, our small groups, our choir rehearsals, our deacon/elder meetings, even our families. Jesus said, “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples — when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:35 MSG)

Yet, love doesn’t look very lovable when it’s accompanied by arguments and disputes and constant fighting. This is perhaps the hardest aspect of genuine Christian fellowship – because conflicts arise every time people are thrown together. Even a man and a woman who vow to love one another until separated by death can’t always see eye-to-eye. It’s understandable, then, when a group of people who have nothing in common but Jesus find it difficult to agree with one another all the time.

Our ability to get along with other believers simply won’t come from our human efforts, no matter how well intentioned, and it won’t come from continual compromises. Here’s the reason why – the church is a body!

The Bible calls the church a body of believers, but the funny thing about this body is every organ has a mind of its own. Yet, the human body is ruled by a single mind.

And so is the church, where the single mind that rules is Jesus, who is the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18). As with the human body, the desires of each individual organ, in the final analysis, don’t matter. It is only the desires of Jesus that count.

What does this mean?

• Listen to your Head – If the left leg wants to walk and the right leg wants to run, it’s the head that decides what they will do. In the body of Christ, Jesus is the Head. Take your conflicts and disagreements to Jesus – and then do what he tells you to do, even if you don’t agree.
• Agree on this one thing – We may have differing opinions, but on this one thing we must all agree: the only opinion that matters is the Lord’s. The cure for arguments and disputes that have infected the body is for all the parts – each of us – to submit to the will of Jesus Christ (James 4:7).
• Question to consider – Has God brought to mind someone with whom you need to work out some differences? Instead of trying to make the other person agree with you, tell God that you will agree with him. If God so leads, tell those on the other side of a conflict or dispute that you are willing to submit to the will of Jesus and encourage them to do the same.

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.

By Jon Walker

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 3:16 (NLT)

God empowers you to successfully do everything he asks to do. He gives you abilities to use in service to others, and he transforms you inwardly with a growing desire to serve others.

The Holy Spirit within gives you the ability to tune into God, to hear him, to listen to him – and to talk with him. Please hear this: he didn’t create you for failure; he created you to succeed with the Holy Spirit energizing your abilities and empowering your efforts.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the small stickers on many computers that say, “Powered by [‘this-brand-of’ chip].” In a sense, you have the “God-chip” powering your life as a follower of Christ; you are empowered by the one and only, Holy God, who’s placed his Holy Spirit within you.

God designed you to succeed, but only when you’re dependent upon him. Without him, you simply will not succeed in the things God calls important and calls you to do. With him, you’re guaranteed to succeed in all he’s called you to complete.

What does this mean?

• Trust God and succeed – In order to succeed at your God-mission, you need to trust God; in other words, believe in faith that he will empower you to succeed. Tell God your fears and ask him to replace them with faith.
• Inner strength comes from God – “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 3:16, NLT)

Jon Walker is the teaching pastor for “The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotionals,” and resident writer at www.GraceCreates.com. This devotional is copyrighted 2008 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.