May 26th, 2020

Christians by Choice
 
 …let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…                                              -  Heb. 12:1-2
 
Simon Peter.   He heeds the Lord’s command to walk on the water, then at the point of despair, quits the ministry to go fishing; triumphantly facing his Master, he shouts, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”; yet, a few hours later, running, with a cursing blasphemous month, from the honest questioning of a small servant girl; or fearlessly standing with drawn sword, he dares the enemies of Christ to advance. Later, spinelessly removing himself from the fellowship of his gentile brethren, because of the attitudes of a few Jewish brethren.
 
Thoughtless, impulsive, outspoken Peter. Self-sacrificing, yet, self seeking.   Courageous, but at other times, cowardly.   Humble? Maybe so, but definitely a problem with pride.
 
We are no different. At times, we stand fearlessly fighting the good fight of faith, while at other times, we silently close the door, and roll in self-pity. We, as Peter shout, “He is the Christ” and we as Peter, remain silent before the accusations of the enemy. Peter could faithfully step from the boat onto the storm-tossed water, yet found it extremely difficult to walk faithfully for Christ on the land.
 
The troubled Christian must understand a priceless principle. God has not asked us to walk fearlessly on troubled water nor has He demanded that we face the prophets of Baal as we pray fire down from heaven. Our all-consuming task is not to face the enemies of Christ with drawn sword but to face Christ on bended knee, seeking His favor, His strength, His perfect Will.
 
 To humbly walk 24-hrs out of every day as a normal everyday saint of God. To be faithful in the little things, those things within our control. Like keeping a Godly attitude in the midst of turmoil.  Exhibiting the love of Christ to those undeserving. Consistently remaining true to biblical standards.
 
How do we accomplish this?  Just like Peter did.  As the boat gently rocked with the motions of working men, did Peter, from a heavenly guided breeze smell the tantalizing scent of fresh fish cooking on a fire.  Looking up, from his work, he saw His Lord. I believe at that moment, he understood what life was about. Life did not consist of doing great things, extraordinary things.  It consisted simply of going to Jesus. Trusting Jesus. Looking unto Him - the only begotten Son of the living God. Our Savior, our Mediator, our Lord.
 
Oswald chambers said it best, “A saint's life is in the hands of God as a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see; he stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says, "I cannot stand any more." But God does not heed; he goes on stretching until his purpose is in sight, then he lets fly. We are here for God's designs, not for our own.”
 
Pastor Rudy