Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’” – Matthew 14:26-27

Really following Jesus all day, every day can lead you into unfamiliar places and even frightening situations. Jesus often calls us out of the comfort and security we love to wrap ourselves in. He often asks us to do things we don’t yet know how to do and to have experiences we’ve never had before. In those situations, when things become stressful, confusing, and clearly out of our control, it can be difficult to recognize the presence of Jesus. That’s OK because Jesus is with you even when you’re struggling to see Him!

That’s one lesson (of several) the disciples learned one night on the Sea of Galilee. Rowing across the lake in the middle of a windy night, the disciples weren’t sure who or what they were seeing coming toward them on the water, but it was strange enough that they became afraid. Not curious, not cautious – terrified. Then Jesus spoke beautiful words of comfort and calm. He let them know He was there with them. Though He was doing something they’d never seen before, they had nothing to fear precisely because He was with them.

The same is true in our own lives when Jesus leads us into unfamiliar situations that challenge our courage and stretch our faith. Hear those words of Jesus and realize He also says them to you, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Take comfort and courage in the knowledge that on this side of the cross, Jesus is always with you. The wind may be blowing. What you see may not make sense. Nonetheless, Jesus is with you and you don’t need to be afraid because He’s the Son of God (the key lesson of that particular evening).

“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.”
– Psalm 33:6-7

This is the God Who loves you! He created everything from nothing, speaking the universe into existence! It was His word that created the galaxies and stars within those galaxies! He defined the contours of the earth and the boundaries of the oceans. He appoints all things to their place by His will and His word alone!

Take time to marvel at God. Praise your Creator! Praise Him for His power, wisdom, and the goodness of His creation! Praise Him too that He knows every detail of your life and cares deeply about those details! The God Who spoke the universe into existence also cares about your ups and downs, victories and defeats, successes and failures. He cares about your needs, your spiritual condition, your emotional well-being, and the quality of your faith. He hears the cries of your heart with a sympathetic ear.

Praise Him that in Christ, He adopted you as His beloved child. Praise Him that the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe welcomes you into His throne room whenever you want to pray. God welcomes you and delights in your prayers. He listens with joy and encourages you to listen as well. Through Christ you’re able to boldly come into God’s presence with every prayer, petition, supplication, concern, fear, anxiety, praise, and thanksgiving. Praise God that He’s able to do infinitely more than you can imagine.

What a God we have! What a perfect Father! What a holy Creator! What a friend!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” – Matthew 13:45-46

If you’ve embraced Jesus Christ as your Lord, trusting in His sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection from the dead for the forgiveness of your sins, then, congratulations, you’re a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven! Are you living like one? Are you enjoying the ongoing eternal benefits and responsibilities that come with being a Kingdom citizen?

Jesus tells this brief parable to emphasize the overwhelming, glorious value of being a citizen of God’s Kingdom here on earth. Do you think of your Kingdom citizenship as a precious treasure? Do you recognize what you already have in Christ? Do you rejoice at the opportunity to work with Jesus to advance His Kingdom here on earth by proclaiming good news to those far from God, blessing those in deep need, encouraging those in despair, and ministering to the sick, disabled, imprisoned, vulnerable, and oppressed?

In this parable, Jesus says the proper response to having access to the greatest treasure imaginable is to get rid of the merely good things you had before so you can focus on the best thing. You are called to go ”all in” for His Kingdom. Have you? Is following Jesus, sharing the Gospel, and ministering to those who suffer your absolutely top priority and greatest joy in life? Or is it merely one of many good things you’ve got going on?

Jesus calls and empowers each of His followers to live a life of tremendous Kingdom significance. However, to really live and fully enjoy that life, we must give up other things which are merely “good” that consume our time, energy, and imagination. Have you given up everything Jesus is calling you to give up to truly live a Kingdom life?

“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” – Acts 19:19

When God graciously gives us new life through faith in His Son Jesus, it’s truly meant to be new life. Completely new. That means there are aspects of each of our lives that we’re each called to get rid of because they don’t please Lord Jesus. That may well include things that are very precious to us and very much part of how we previously identified ourselves.

In Ephesus, many were coming to saving faith in Jesus. Their new life in Christ compelled them to reject their old practices and possessions associated with performing magic. Though they’d been practicing sorcery for many years, made money from it, and found power and status in it, there is no place for sorcery in their lives as followers of Jesus. Rather than keep the temptation around, they burned their precious spell books and were glad to do it, because they’d received new life and the overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit in them!

When we choose Jesus, it must not be a half-hearted choice of divide loyalty. We can’t truly follow Jesus while also holding onto those things about our old lives that we enjoy but which disobey Him. Faith in Jesus means a new heart, new passions, new loyalties, and new identity. For every believer in Jesus!

Take time today to assess your loyalties. Are you holding onto a habit, pattern, hobby, or practice that goes against God’s will and design? Are you still doing things that reflect divided loyalty between Jesus and the things of the world? If you are, stop making excuses for it! Stop trying to explain it away. Do like the Ephesians and decisively cut all ties to your past sinful practice or lifestyle to fully follow Jesus!

“And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” – Acts 18:12

Paul never knew how long he would stay in a place or when he would need to move on. He simply followed the cues of the situation and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Usually, he didn’t stay very long before opposition built and crowds were mobilized against him. He would arrive, preach, help those who embraced Jesus begin to form churches, and leave when things got violent. He wasn’t afraid of this and it didn’t discourage him. This unpredictability was part of his mission.

In Corinth, however, God told him to stay despite rising opposition. While Paul never seemed to fear opposition that forced him to leave, it seems he may have feared staying. Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit made clear there were many in the city who needed to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. God protected Paul so he could stay in Corinth for a year and a half. He strengthened and encouraged Paul to stay, no matter what.

For us today, called to share Jesus with those we encounter in our lives, we must learn to follow God’s lead in the same way. Opposition, persecution, and seeming failure are likely if we’re faithfully following Jesus in word and deed. Don’t automatically assume they mean it’s time to give up, pack it in, and move on. Seek God’s will.

When is He calling you to persist with someone or some place that needs to hear about Jesus? When is He releasing you to move on? This isn’t an easy question! It must be a matter of prayer and fasting. Yearn to hear God’s voice on the matter before turning away from something or someone you believe God called you to. Nonetheless, be asking God the question – don’t just assume He never intends for you to move on. To follow Jesus is to live a life with more unpredictability than you might prefer. Nonetheless, this is the way of your Master, the way of those who came before you, and the way you’re called to walk today. Hold your plans loosely and seek God’s will!