"Let's take a walk," Jesus says, and we GO, finding real adventures and miracles along the way. Now that wasn't MY plan today--actually this was my morning to "garage-sale" walk the neighborhood, a bargain-hunter's dream! But God had a better plan for me (to my husband's delight--who saved himself a little money!), and I ended up at his weekly Christian fellowship breakfast, not knowing a devotional idea was waiting for me--and you--far better than any garage sale bargain in the neighborhood!
This morning's speaker was Michael Wallenberg, missionary from Sweden, and Founder/President of "Mission in East," a Christian humanitarian organization working in Ukraine, with medical treatment for very ill children. I was captivated by his story--but when he shared with us this simple paraphrase of Jesus' words (from the walk-on-water Peter story), I KNEW I had my devotional for the week! So just keep on your garage-sale walking shoes--they're comfy--and let's all go walking with Jesus!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
Walk in the Word....Stepping Out in Trust!
"Let's take a walk," Jesus says, and He leads us to walk daily in His Word, discovering His ways and an eternal world of truth far beyond our human understanding. New Christians and seasoned Christians never cease to be amazed at the treasures along the way, but the wonder of His Word is when He speaks a verse of Scripture to your own heart personally--for your immediate need. Nothing can take the place of that assurance of heart and soul which comes when Jesus walks WITH us IN His Word
But slow down--because up ahead is another pedestrian, the prince of evil, who walks about as a roaring lion seeking who he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He will attempt to snatch God's Word from your heart, deny its truth, and destroy your faith. But remember, he's a walking liar...you're treading the path with Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and HE knows how to handle the beast better than you ever will. He's the Lion of the Tribe of Judah--victorious as "The Living Word," and He walks with you this day!
Walk in His Will...Stepping Out in Obedience!
"Let's take a walk," Jesus says, and in moments of great spiritual faith we say, "Yes, Lord--Thy Will be Done. We are at Your command--send us where you will." THAT'S in the moment of great faith, and thank God for those moments of surrender, when we place all on the altar. There is no greater joy of living than to give one's entire life to God. When Jesus says, "Give me thine heart," He means it all--and sometimes it's hard to totally obey and give Him the key to every room of our heart. But He will lovingly wait until we give Him our all, for He knows--and WE know--that "in His Will lies peace." And so we surrender--and are blessed.
But halt a minute...just a minute...for ahead of you is someone waiting to divert you from the path of God's perfect Will. It's a sly whisper or a quick thought, a doubt, a question--and the heart totally sold out to the Will of God begins to skip a beat or two. Shall I give my all--shall I surrender my best? And if I've stumbled, shall I give up, go another way, do another thing? "Devil, begone!" you must say, for he is the tripper-upper! Let him know, "My eyes are set on the goal of God's perfect Will. I will walk in it with my Lord!" Now, as someone has said, "It is far better to walk in the dark with Him than in the light without Him." So get back in step with your Lord--He walks with you all the way!
Walk on the Water...Stepping Out in Service!
"Let's take a walk, Peter," Jesus says, and Peter timidly puts one foot out of the boat, then another--and would you believe, he walks on water! You see, Jesus knows all about Peter--He has a service plan for Peter that will dazzle the world! But it couldn't happen until Peter learned a few lessons of service--when he would learn to trust God's Word and obey His Will, he was ready to walk on the water, to do impossible "feats" in God's Kingdom, to witness to a world of God's love. Jesus was preparing Peter, just as He prepares you--and me--for service in His Kingdom. Scary? You bet it is--for He stretches us to the limit that we--and a watching world--might know it is HIS doing and not ours. Want to do service for your King? Then be prepared to walk on the water--there's no limit to what God will miraculously do in your life--when you step out of the boat!
But wait a minute, Peter--I see waves, I feel wind--and so do you! Why, Peter, you're falling down in fear and failure! Don't lose it, Peter--it's that other "walker," again trying to trip you up! Now walk on water he might attempt (and Satan has evil power, we know)--but he can't do the real thing YOU are about to do in God's strength. Now he will try to drown YOU too, for Satan does not want you in service for the Lord. He will try to discourage and defeat you with fear and anxiety, with distress and discouragement, but remember, Jesus stands bidding you come--and when you fall, like Peter, He picks you up, says, "Let's take a walk," and walks WITH you back to that boat. You're going to make it, walk-on-water saint--for HE walks with you all the way!
Now I hadn't planned to bring the devil into this devotional, but just this day, in walking with a friend through some discouragement and defeat, I recognized there was a devil, an "ole slewfoot," trying to trip us all up in our walk with the Lord. He does not want you to walk in God's Word or in His Will; neither does he want you to "walk on the water" in wonderful, miraculous service for your Lord. Well, I think it's time to tell him to "take a hike!" Satan is DEFEATED--and that's a pun that came out of nowhere--so enjoy it, and know your victory is the Lord's this day! Walk with Him--and someday, by God's grace, it will be on His glorious streets of gold--where golden slippers are far better than garage-saleing shoes any day!! Now smile and have a wonderful week walking with your Lord!
