Involvement

[September 14, 2009]   -- "Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' Jesus said, ''Come.''"-Matthew 14: 28

Would you do that? Would you step out of a perfectly good boat into the tumult of the sea? Would you do it if Jesus were standing before you and beckoning you forward? only you can answer those questions but you are likely thinking, "well, good thing I won't ever have to answer those questions because that will never happen." But the truth is that it happens almost daily. You see, most of us like to be comfortable. We like to do things that don't cause us alarm and anxiety. In life, most of us prefer to join the other disciples in the safety of the boat...no matter who is in the water. But what this story really teaches us is that often Christ calls us to be uncomfortable. He calls us to step out of our safe places and do things that cause us to worry and fret, "Will this work? Can I do it? Am I strong enough? Will I be embarrassed?" These are the thoughts that were likely going through Peter's mind and these thoughts flash through our minds when we think about serving Christ in some new, less comfortable manner.

Over the days ahead I hope you will give thought and prayer to what Jesus Christ might be asking you to do but you may be resisting. Is there something that you feel called to do but are to frightened to undertake? Is there some action in your life that needs to be done? Do you hear Christ's call in your life? Make no doubt, Christ frequently calls us to do his work, what we need to do is to be brave and accept it.

Prayer: God of my life, help me to hear your calling in my life. Help me, that hearing your call, I might do what you ask me to do. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen

[text from file received by Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian Church]