[Tuesday's Devotional] - Peter tries walking on water

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”   Matthew 14: 28-31 [NIV]

Nobody else in the boat was impetuous enough to step out onto the water to see if he could walk on it towards Jesus.  Peter wanted to try it, and he made a good start, it would appear, until the distractions of the wind and the waves made him lose confidence and start to sink.  All my past attempts at walking on water have failed dismally (I sink like a stone), so I have to say that I am impressed by how well he did.  Had he a little more faith, he could have walked all the way.

Sometimes our faith is also limited.  We set out on a path in a certain direction and when we run into some difficulties it is easy to doubt and start sinking.  If you want to walk over a metre (3 feet!) wide plank, with a drop of hundreds of metres either side, it helps not to look down and think about how windy it is.  If the plank were on the ground we could do it easily – doubt and lack of faith can make you struggle to do the things you know you should be able to do.

Lord, help us to put our trust in you and increase our faith, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Dave MacLellan (first published in 2003)

[Monday's Devotional] - Simon named Peter

One of the first disciples Jesus called was Simon the brother of Andrew.  Jesus gave him a new name:

 

‘Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John.  You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).’ John 1:42 [NIV]  

 

Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean rock.

 

Many of the great leaders used by God had their names changed (Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Saul became Paul etc.).  A name is important in what it says about someone.  Simon means “listener”.  Simon was in a position to listen to what Jesus said.  This week we will look at some of the interactions between Peter and Jesus.

 

In the Gospels, Simon Peter (or Peter) comes across as the sort of person who acts first and then thinks afterwards.  However, he matured as a disciple and later on (in Acts) we see him becoming the ‘rock’ on which the church was built.  Without this hindsight we might think Jesus had made a mistake in choosing Peter as a disciple – but his qualities developed over time to make him a better person.   

 

Perhaps there are aspects of your personality you are not happy with. It could be that you have some negative traits.  God is working his purpose out for the long term.  Don’t despair, as you are transformed by growing more like Christ – so your character can develop to be the type of mature Christian who can be a foundation for the future work of God’s kingdom.

 

Lord, help me to grow in maturity in my life as your disciple.  Amen

 

 

Dave MacLellan (first published in 2003)

[Friday's Devotional] - The Power of Words

Jesus sets out his mission in Luke 4:18-19, when he reads from the scroll in the temple:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” [NIV]

 

We can understand that the “good news” was not just addressing the needs of the physically poor and oppressed, but all of us.  We are all spiritually poor, and can “see” and know “freedom” as we understand who Jesus is.  However, need is obviously seen more acutely by those in physical or emotional distress.

 

Many charities have a model of sending workers out to work with local people in the developing world, so that projects would be more appropriate, and that there would also be a greater sense of ownership by those receiving the aid.  However, often the solutions to problems are still coming from the charity workers.  One charity I have heard of, GHNI, use a different approach of encouraging local people to come up with their own solutions.  Apparently this is like a light going on for many of them, as they realise that they have the potential to improve things themselves. Their solutions are often simple and effective, being easily maintained and valued by the local community.  The power for them to change was just what was said to them.

 

It is interesting that although Jesus acted in the power of the Spirit throughout his ministry, the main way he was going to empower others was through his words.  In John’s gospel, Jesus emphasises this point saying “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63 [NIV].

 

When I think of the Holy Spirit, the power of words is not what first comes to mind, but rather healings, prophesies, miracles etc, and I’m sure these really help reinforce the message.  But perhaps we underestimate the power of words though, both ours and especially Jesus’s.

 

Today, consider the power of Jesus’ words, and of your words to others. How are you going to use them?

 

Jon Seaton

[Thursday's Devotional] - Empowered by a Miracle

When he had finished speaking, [Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:4-6[NIV]

 

How would you feel if you were struggling along in your twenty year-or-so long career, then an inexperienced newcomer turns up and shows you how it is done?  I would not find it very encouraging!  It could have been deflating for Simon Peter when he saw Jesus perform his miracle, if he hadn't already known he was someone special.  He shows his respect for Jesus by obeying his request to do something which probably defied his fishing experience.  Yet “putting out into deeper water and letting down his nets for a catch” enables him to see a miracle, and I am sure his fishing experience lets him appreciate it for what it is.

 

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:8.

 

I am sure Jesus had many purposes in performing miracles.  They all point to his divinity, but there also seems to be another point in encouraging and directing the witnesses and bringing in the Kingdom of God.  The effect on Simon Peter is profound – it convicts him of his sin, and re-directs his life.

 

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:10-11.

 

This leaves me wondering how I would react to a miraculous situation.  Would I be prepared to humble myself first as Simon did, and do what Jesus was asking?  Would I be able to appreciate the miracle for what it was?  Would I just want the private faith booster or even only see it as entertainment?  Would I be able to see God's Kingdom purpose in what was going on?  Would it change my life?

 

Maybe we will see a miracle one day, but if not, we haven't missed out on the main point.  We can have the empowerment of recognising Jesus for who he is, and knowing his Kingdom purposes in our lives without seeing a miracle.  But, should he want to surprise us or re-direct our lives in this way, I hope I am ready and aware to appreciate a miracle for what it is.

 

Jon Seaton

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Empowered to enter and exit the wilderness

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.  He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. Luke 4:1-2 [NIV]

 

It is remarkable that the first thing the Spirit led Jesus to after his baptism, was to go to a desolate place where he would be tempted, suffer discomfort and apparently achieve none of his ministry objectives.  Can this be right?  Well yes, the scripture is clear.

 

Maybe this was training for his ministry ahead, which would certainly be tough as he faced the Pharisees questions and would ultimately be led away to be executed.  Maybe it was better to face the devil's challenge now than half way through his ministry.  Maybe it was Jesus choosing to put himself in the place of temptation that we all face, so that he could identify better with our human condition.

 

Whatever the reason for the Spirit's leading, we read that despite these trials, Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit (see Luke 4:14).  Jesus’ victory over temptation was not one that he returned from empty, as we might expect to, but full of power.

 

This leads me to wonder whether we have the right attitude to temptation.  We often speak of praying for protection from the enemy, maybe conscious of the draining battle.  Yet, I wonder if we should rather be praying for the armour of God?  Are we prepared to do battle, or do we just want to be removed from it?  It is maybe only as we engage in the fight, we know the empowerment of God with us and have our wills changed to be like his.

 

Remembering the “Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God”, (Ephesians 6:17), here are three Scriptures that I find helpful in the fight:

 

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.

 

Jon Seaton