Month: September 2021

Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines neutrality as “the quality or state of being neutral especially refusal to take part in a war between other powers.” My beloved, you may have missed the small print that indicated that salvation enlisted you in the strategic military warfare of the Captain of the Host, Jehovah (Yhwh) Sabaoth. You could have read the small print but thought that the army inferences were metaphorical. No, my beloved, we are in a battle, and the confrontation may be invisible, but it is genuine. You were in a struggle before giving your life to the Lord but were unaware of the consequences. Yes, someone may have told you about heaven versus hell, but it did not compel you to make different choices in your everyday life without an understanding. Apostle Paul warns us in II Timothy 2:3-4 that as soldiers, we are not to approach our circumstances as if we were civilians (neutral). Still, we are to be actively engaged in warfare. Unfortunately, God’s soldiers, like the children of Israel, are looking for a neutral stance that gives them the option to do things their way.

God’s mercies are new every morning, and daily we can choose. The choice is who we are going to serve with our time, treasure, and talents. There is not a neutral stance. In the light of scripture, a neutral stance is a choice to serve the kingdom of darkness. The prophet Elijah challenged the people to decide in I Kings 18:21 (KJV). When we try to find a neutral ground, this option defaults to choosing the enemy. When Elijah spoke to God’s people, he said, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” Notice that the people only had two options, but they did not respond; it indicates that they were contemplating a third choice or a neutral stance.

In Deuteronomy 30:19, God gives Israel a choice, His way, which is life, or the course of his enemy, which is death. Daily we must commit to choosing life. We have an option to live God’s way, whether in our homes, meeting rooms, classrooms, or community. What would happen in our world if more of us would choose to live a life reflective of our Heavenly Father. Keep in mind a neutral stance is not an option.

Daily Prayer

 For a prayer boost in this area, check out Power up Morning Prayer Surge at https://www.talkshoe.com/episode/16589541.

Daily Scripture

II Timothy 2:3-4 Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier (KJV).

I Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word (KJV).

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live (KJV).

References

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Neutrality. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neutrality

When we read the encounter of Jesus walking on water, our logical response is, how could this be.  How can a human being walk on water?  Throughout our lifetimes, we learned that gravity would not allow a person to walk on water.  You might say that Jesus was not a mere man.  You are correct, but he was the son of God in an earth suit like the one we wear given to mortality – even death.

The fact that Jesus Christ was still wearing mortality leads me to believe God’s objective is to teach us a different principle. At this point, scripture does not give us any indication that the disciples fully grasped the identity of Jesus. To reinforce, my suspicion Peter, one of the disciples, joined him on the water and proceeded to walk on water with Jesus. To the degree that Peter had faith in Jesus, he too walked on water.

After a day of ministry, Jesus compelled his disciples to leave him with the crowd that had just seen the miraculous feeding of over 5,000 persons from a small lunch that a young boy offered to the disciples. Instead of joining them, he told them that he would join them later as they traveled to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. In the meantime, Jesus followed his often documented routine.  He climbed the mountain to meet with his father. 

Jesus appeared between the hours of 3 am, and 6 am walking on water.  Peter sees him and, in fear, asks him to prove that He was Jesus. Jesus said, “Come.” Peter responds by immediately leaving the eleven and joins Jesus as he, Peter, walks on water towards him.

 God calls us to be like Peter. Once assured that it is Christ, our immediate response should be to leave the others and pursue Christ.  It does not matter the tumultuous of the terrain.  It only matters that Jesus said, “Come.”  Peter had the faith to go beyond his comfort zone and pursue the vision that Christ presented to him.  The possibility of the miraculous – walking on water, overcoming the logical and the predictable to do something that he had never experienced.

Are there situations in life that seem impossible for you, yet you hear God calling you to leave the boat and walk with him?  Once you get out of the boat, learn from Peter.  No matter how stormy the wind is, if you have faith to keep your eyes on Jesus and not become afraid, you can walk on water.  Do not let fear, shame, or pride keep you from crying out to Jesus if you lose focus.  He is there waiting to lift you out so that together to can fulfill your purpose. For with Jesus, all things are possible to them that believe (Mark 9:23).

Daily Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called each of us to a particular assignment based on our uniqueness and the specificity of your plan and your purposes (Jeremiah 29:11). We hear you as you bid us come.  Today, we respond in trust to your will for our lives.  We thank you, heavenly Father, that you will never leave us or forsake us, and you created us to join you on the waters of life no matter how turbulent the wind as long as we keep our faith in you, we will not sink but if we do thank you for picking us up so that we can begin anew. Amen.

Daily Scripture

Matthew 4: 22-32 (NKJV)And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.