Bible League: Living His Word Then Jesus caught Peter with his hand. He said, "Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?"The story of Jesus and Peter walking on water is a story that speaks to the life of every disciple of Jesus Christ. Although few disciples, if any, will ever again be called to walk on water like Peter, they will be called to do all sorts of other things in service to Jesus that will seem difficult, if not impossible. Just as Peter was called to get out of the boat and come to Jesus, so every disciple of Jesus Christ is called to leave where they have been and go where He is. Jesus is the Great Shepherd and we are His sheep. Our purpose in life is to stop going in the direction we used to go in and come to Him and follow Him. He calls each one of us to the purpose in life He has for us. Just like Peter, then, we must step out of the comfort of the boat of our own making and start to walk on the water where Jesus is walking. We may not be able to see how it is possible, we may only be able to see the difficulties and problems, but we must step out anyway. We must step out in faith that Jesus knows what He is asking of us and that it can be done. The life of a follower of Jesus is a life of faith in Him. If we step out in faith and follow Jesus, then we must not doubt. There will always be reasons to doubt, there will always be wind and waves, because the world we live in is a world full of trials, troubles, and tribulations. In this dispensation, no one gets a free pass. Nevertheless, we must step out in faith and not doubt the call of Jesus. Just like Peter, however, every disciple will have times when the troubles of the calling will test our faith and cause us to doubt. When that happens and we start to sink, we must call out to Jesus for His help. Jesus is always there ready to lift us up. He will never leave us nor forsake us After all, it was Jesus Himself who said, "You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time" (Matthew 28:20). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 139-141 Psalm 139 -- O Lord, you have searched me, and you know me. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 140 -- Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man; NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 141 -- O Lord, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 1 Corinthians 10 -- Warning to Avoid Israel's Fate and flee from Idolatry; Freedom of believers NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.Insight How do we get eternal life? Jesus tells us clearly here—by knowing God the Father himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. Eternal life requires entering into a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Challenge When we admit our sin and turn away from it, Christ's love lives in us by the Holy Spirit. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Numbers 6:4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.Nazarites had taken, among other vows, one which debarred them from the use of wine. In order that they might not violate the obligation, they were forbidden to drink the vinegar of wine or strong liquors, and to make the rule still more clear, they were not to touch the unfermented juice of grapes, nor even to eat the fruit either fresh or dried. In order, altogether, to secure the integrity of the vow, they were not even allowed anything that had to do with the vine; they were, in fact, to avoid the appearance of evil. Surely this is a lesson to the Lord's separated ones, teaching them to come away from sin in every form, to avoid not merely its grosser shapes, but even its spirit and similitude. Strict walking is much despised in these days, but rest assured, dear reader, it is both the safest and the happiest. He who yields a point or two to the world is in fearful peril; he who eats the grapes of Sodom will soon drink the wine of Gomorrah. A little crevice in the sea-bank in Holland lets in the sea, and the gap speedily swells till a province is drowned. Worldly conformity, in any degree, is a snare to the soul, and makes it more and more liable to presumptuous sins. Moreover, as the Nazarite who drank grape juice could not be quite sure whether it might not have endured a degree of fermentation, and consequently could not be clear in heart that his vow was intact, so the yielding, temporizing Christian cannot wear a conscience void of offence, but must feel that the inward monitor is in doubt of him. Things doubtful we need not doubt about; they are wrong to us. Things tempting we must not dally with, but flee from them with speed. Better be sneered at as a Puritan than be despised as a hypocrite. Careful walking may involve much self-denial, but it has pleasures of its own which are more than a sufficient recompense. Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.Psalm 91:5,4 You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; • He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. Matthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Psalm 121:3-5 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. • Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. • The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. Psalm 61:4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. Psalm 139:12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 1 Corinthians 3:23 and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God. Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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