Eyes fixed upon Jesus

Hello all,

This past Monday God began to pour forth into me through a passage in Matthew and I felt compelled to share it with anyone who might be reading my blog.

Last week for my Intro to Proclamation class we were supposed to take a narrative within scripture and tell it more in story form. I picked Matthew 14:24-33 and as I set out to read it and live into the passage so that I might tell this familiar narrative of Jesus and Peter walking on water I was coming up with nothing. In fact I stared at a word document with the passage all day Saturday and Sunday coming up with nothing. I felt empty, like I was drained and had nothing left in me to give, but God showed up on Monday evening. God not only revealed much about this passage to me, but poured out into my life in a powerful way. I encourage you before reading what is below to go read the passage in Matthew 14:24-33.

As Christians, God doesn't promise us a "comfortable" life. In fact, He calls us out of comforts that we tend to cling to. NT Wright made the statement that in Jesus's call to follow him, He "didn't say, as do some modern evangelists, 'God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.' Nor did he say, 'I accept you as you are, so you can now happily do whatever comes naturally.' He said, 'If you want to become my followers, deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me' (Mark 8:34). He spoke of losing one's life in order to gain it, as opposed to clinging to it and so losing it"

With a great amount of faith, Peter made the decision to leave the safety and comfort of the boat and step out onto the water. As he took those first steps, he must have been aware of the danger and trouble all around him, for the wind and the waves were crashing all around him, probably soaking him. Yet in his faith, with his eyes fixed upon Christ he walked forward in confidence. It was in the moment that he began to pull his focus away from Christ, letting his fear become greater than his faith, that he began to sink. In the same way, God calls each of us to something greater. He says to us as he said to Peter, "come," calling us out of the boat, out of the safety and comforts we are clinging to. He asks us to trust him as we take our first steps into the unknown, knowing that it won't be easy. As we faithfully step out as Peter did, in our brokenness, there will be times that we begin to lose focus as Peter did.

As we begin to sink and the waters of doubt and fear are welling up around us; we must simply look up. We must look up and cry out to out Abba Father crying out “Lord save me!” For it is in this moment we recognize that Jesus has been standing there all along. He is standing in front of us with His hand extended out, waiting for us to acknowledge His presence. It is in the moment that we reach out and take hold of His hand that we begin to feel the strength in His hand, the life giving power that exudes forth. It is in that moment of faith that we are reminded of just who it is that we have fighting for us, along side of us; the majestic, all-powerful Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, YAHWEH. It is then and only then that we can overcome the waters that once appeared great, fearlessly facing the trials before us. It is then that our faith and boldness will not lead us into the desire to become great or do great things, but instead will humble us, bringing us to our knees, falling face down in worship before our Father in heaven. It is then that our eyes become fixed upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and we simply proclaim in confidence, “truly you are the Son of God.”

I challenge each one of you...When was the last time you have cried out to God? When was the last time that you reached out in desperation, desiring to trust every part of your being, to Christ? Reach out, take Hold of His hand; feel the might and power of life that floods forth out of His very being. Put your full faith and focus upon Him, falling face down before Him in worship and adoration.

In Christ with love,

Jordan Scoby McFall