From: January 22, 2024
‘Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”’ (Matthew 14:31 ESV).
In the fourth watch of the night, which was between 3 and 6 AM, the disciples labored to cross the Galilee against a strong headwind, when they were terrified to see a man walking on the water. Thinking it a ghost, they cried out in fear, but Jesus identified himself and told them not to be afraid. Hearing this, Peter asked the Lord to command him to come to him on the water. Jesus said, “Come.”
At Christ’s command, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus, but as he saw the winds and the waves around him, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus took his hand and rescued him asking, “Why did you doubt?”
This is the crisis of answering Christ’s call. First, he calls us out of the boat, out of that place we know and feel self-confident. Hearing his call, we move towards him. But soon we find ourselves completely out of our element. Our own strengths and resources fall short. Taking our eyes off of Jesus and seeing and hearing the challenges around us, we begin to sink. We begin to doubt Christ’s call.
This is the second crisis of answering Christ’s call. The difficulties of following him cause us to doubt. And doubting, we begin to sink and feel as though we might drown. Yet when we cry out, “Lord, save me.” He does. Now we have begun to learn the nature of obeying his call, namely, that we cannot do it in our own strength. We must learn to keep our eyes on Jesus and to completely rely on him for all things.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we believe, help us with our unbelief. Help us to doubt our doubts, instead of doubting You. We want to follow the calling of Your Son, Jesus. Strengthen us to get out out of the boat and walk by faith in Him. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 22, 2023
‘Then Judah stepped forward and said, “Please, my lord, let your servant say just one word to you. Please, do not be angry with me, even though you are as powerful as Pharaoh himself”‘ (Genesis 44:18 NLT).
When Judah, the fourth son of Jacob’s twelve, stepped forward to act as his brother’s advocate, the future of his tribe began to unfold. For this is an early indication of Judah’s rise to leadership.
Reuben, the eldest, had lost his birthright through sexual misconduct with Jacob’s concubine Bilhah (Gen. 35:22), and the bloody revenge taken by Simeon (son #2) and Levi (son #3) following the rape of Dinah (Gen. 34), led to Jacob’s curse over them (Gen. 49).
Judah, who had been against killing Joseph, now offers himself as ransom for his brother, Benjamin (Gen. 44:33). Even though Joseph is their rescuer during this time of famine, Judah is the brother who offered to take his brother Benjamin’s place as a slave. It was Judah whom Jacob later blesses as the “lion’s cub” and the one to whom the “scepter shall not depart,” speaking of the kings that would be born to his tribe (Gen.49). Judah is the tribe to which both King David and the Lord Jesus are born.
Judah’s willingness to take Benjamin’s punishment foreshadows Christ’s willingness to take our punishment. For Jesus stepped forward and offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins and rose from the grave and ever lives as our Advocate before the Father.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that You stepped forward in love and sent Your Son, Jesus, to stand in our place. We are overwhelmed by Your provision and plan for our lives. Forgive us when we worry about tomorrow or how we live. For You have always provided for us and You have a plan to bless us and to sanctify us, making us like Your Son. We trust You. Strengthen us for today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 22, 2017
Those who declare God dead are themselves dead in their trespasses and sins. Having denied knowledge of God, they think themselves wise and show themselves fools. For if God were dead, there would be no mind to know it, nor mouth to speak of it. God is not only the Creator of all, He is the Sustainer of all. He is not the absentee clockmaker, winding up the universe and walking away. No. He is the eternally present One, active and always at work in the creation He has made. He still hears when we pray. He still speaks when we listen. He never sleeps, for He has no need of rest. He never leaves nor forsakes us, for He always keeps those He has saved through the blood of His Son. Our Lord lives! Blessed be His Name!
From: January 22, 2016
Judah, the fourth son of Jacob’s twelve, now acts as spokesman. This is an early indication of Judah’s rise to leadership. Reuben, the eldest, lost his birthright through sexual misconduct with Jacob’s concubine Bilhah (Gen. 35:22), and the bloody revenge taken by Simeon (son #2) and Levi (son #3) following the rape of Dinah (Gen. 34), led to Jacob’s curse over them (Gen. 49). Judah, who had been against killing Joseph, now offers himself as ransom for his brother, Benjamin (Gen. 44:33). Even though Joseph is their rescuer during this time of famine, Judah is the brother whom Jacob later blesses as the “lion’s cub” and the one to whom the “scepter shall not depart,” speaking of his later kingship (Gen.49). Judah is the tribe to which King David and King Jesus are born.
From: January 22, 2015
Perhaps you’ve heard someone say, “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.” This mantra is offered to encourage us to have a risk-taking kind of faith like Peter’s. Yet, it overlooks Peter’s first step. His first step wasn’t to get his feet wet. His first step was to ask permission from Jesus to join Him on the sea. Peter asked to walk on the water to Jesus. And Jesus said, “Come.” So, during the 4th watch of the night (3-6AM), Peter got to practice his gait on the Galilee. What unexpected joy awaits those who will follow Jesus wherever He leads!