Max Lucado writes, “Biographies of bold disciples begin with chapters of honest terror.
Fear of death. Fear of failure. Fear of loneliness. Fear of a wasted life. Fear of failing to know God.
Faith begins when we see God on the mountain, and we are in the valley, and we know that we’re too weak to make the climb…
Faith that begins with fear will end up nearer the Father.
Paul had mastered the Law. He had mastered the system. But one glimpse of God convinced him that sacrifice and symbols were not enough…"
“Lord, show us the Father; that will be enough.” John 14:8. Philip didn’t realize that Jesus and the Father were one, so he didn’t realize that Jesus was enough.
What fear is gripping you? What failure or loss are you still reeling from? What sin is keeping you from living abundantly in Christ? What are your eyes fixed on?
A look at the life of Christ and His disciples tells us that our lives are not our own. I’m not here for me. I’m here for God and you.
My life was created by God for the sole purpose of serving Him and proclaiming His gospel. No matter the opposition. Regardless of my past. Despite my feelings. In my weakness.
God saved me to serve Jesus with my life.
I wish I had known this when I was young. I wish I had always lived this way. But I didn’t. I was saved at 24. All the years before could be considered wasted, but God redeems. Even after I was saved, I didn’t always trust and love the Lord wholeheartedly.
By God’s grace, I have changed.
Now, I fear God more than anything or anyone else. Not that He will squash me because I deserve squashing but because I want to honor Him and live up to the sacrifice Jesus made to save me. I owe Him my life because He gave His for mine.
I have feared death, but I don’t anymore.
I still fear failing because that came easily in my past… But God is continually redeeming.
I used to fear being alone, but I like it now because I feel more of His presence there.
I wasted so much of my life before. I’m determined not to waste anymore. I keep asking God to redeem those years, and He seems to be doing so. He still works miracles.
I failed to know God properly.
I failed to trust that Jesus was enough – not anymore.
My eyes are fixed on Him now. He is whom I desire most. He is whom I run to the most.
I know I’m too weak to make the climb, and I trust Him to carry me up. Because He does, He always has, and He always will. God is faithful, even when I was unfaithful.
I’m nothing like Paul. I’ve not mastered the Law or any system. I’ve broken most of them. But I have the glimpse of God he had. I know that Jesus is enough. He is all I need for life, love, and godliness.
He is my one thing.
“One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” Psalm 27:4
“But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14