Floating Stones

"But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

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

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward 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 14:27-31

We can only imagine what was going through Peter’s mind as he walked on water. If ever there was a case to be made for faith, this was it. Peter’s utter reliance upon God enabled him to place footstep after footstep on malleable, liquid water. By all natural, human laws this was not possible, it couldnt be possible! And yet here Peter was walking across the sea amidst a particularly violent storm with his Lord directly in front of him. Talk about a surreal experience!

When Jesus came across the fisherman Simon, his very first action was to change his name to Peter (or Cephas) which means rock. By faith alone Peter, a rock, floated on the surface of the waters as he walked towards his savior. What an amazing moment- Peters faith seemed to know no bounds.

But then a sick feeling took hold of him- his stomach began to turn in knots as doubt invaded. As Peter began to look about him, his complete and utter faith in his Lord was broken and he began to sink. Fear took hold of his entire soul as the water licked up at his feet and began to pull him underneath its dark surface. Peter began to rationalize, to apply human rules to a situation in which they did not apply. Peter, the rock of Christ, was sinking quickly and desperately needed help. As he began to slip beneath the icy waters he shouted to the only one he knew could save him, his Lord. Jesus immediately responded to his plea by plucking him from the waters that threatened to consume him…

The keeping of our faith is a constant struggle my friends! The Lord has been teaching me this in my own life these last few weeks. Its easy to have faith when we become accustomed to walking on water. We take for granted the daily miracles that God provides; we forget that we are merely floating stones. Our sinful nature and actions should have left us condemned unto eternal death long ago, yet Christ in his mercy saw fit to uphold us in his hands.

God reminds of us of this in times of trial and temptation. As our world crashes and burns around us, we become like Peter- frantic, sick to our stomachs, afraid to the utmost of what might happen. Worry invades and we begin to despair. Amidst tribulation pretenses are laid bare and we are forced to come to grips with reality. We exist and breathe ONLY because God saw fit for it to be so in his perfect will. In light of this realization, we should react as Peter did. We should shout to him, “Lord, save me!”

I would also go as far as to say that these trials we face in life are a necessary part of our Christian walk. Jesus himself said, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” (John 12:24-28). The Lord uses our hour of weakness to glorify his name- and what higher calling is there? In our weakness, he is made perfectly known! We are called to face these troubles head on and actively consider how we might grow our faith and increase our reliance upon him. What a wonderful God we serve!

Though we face a great many ugly things in this world, it is comforting to know that Jesus will always be there waiting to pluck us from the depths in our time of need. When necessary trials descend upon us, let us look to the face of God and praise his name. Let us be stones that float upon a tried and tested faith in Christ Jesus.

Scripture For Thought…

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

-James 1:2-6

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

-2 Corinthians 12:9

Leading a Genuine Life

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set you rminds on things that are above, not on things that on earth. For you have died, and you life is hidden with Christ in God.” -Colossians 3:1-3

So I’ve been thinking, as I’m prone to do, about the importance I place on leading a legitimate life. I know that sounds extremely open-ended, but I make the statement without hesitation. In my opinion there is nothing more disturbing than a ‘counterfeit’ Christian. Let me clarify- when a person acts one way but thinks another it is extremely unsettling. Have you ever felt betrayed by someone’s actions? I know many young adults who have experienced a ‘falling out’ with some individuals they once called friends. Kids who were once held accountable by their parents and teachers are suddenly faced with independence and limited accountability. Unfortunately many take on this new freedom and let their sinful desires and thoughts run rampant. There is no gateway, no stopping point, no friend to keep them accountable. They live a counterfeit life; speaking one way and acting another.

Does this scare you? It should! As Christians we face an uphill battle. We must overcome the tactless stereotypes and false prophets who portray Christ wrongfully. As a body of believers we are sending a mixed message to the nations. No man can serve two masters- our thoughts and actions must be one. A perfect example of this is found in MySpace itself! How many people do you know who act differently in real life as opposed to online? It’s startling isn’t it? Sure you may fool others, but you cannot fool God. Furthermore, what do we think we are doing to our fellow man? Living a counterfeit life is hurtful. No one likes knowing that they’ve been played or tricked, especially when they place their trust in you.

We should be the first to admit when we are wrong- quick to listen and slow to speak. Let us run from gossip, and think about what we are about to say long before we say it. We need more genuine people in this life- we need to surround ourselves with bona fide brothers and sisters. May we all pursue accountability in an attempt to lead genuine, unashamed lives for Christ.

A Breath of Fresh Air

It is a strange feeling, this quiet time of relief and satisfaction. God has provided me such great companions this past year. I am so priveleged to be able to call so many good Christian brothers and sisters friends. These are bonds not only of love and concern, but bonds that hold eternity as a common denominator.

In these times of clarity I feel as if Jesus has placed me on the top of a mountain and given me a chance to glimpse a bigger picture. “See what I have done? Now does it make sense? You are but a small component in the kingdom of my father, but I have provided you with fellow crusaders. Those that, though flawed, will run the race with you. You will sharpen each other- when they fall, pick them up as they will do unto you.”

When the Lord gives me these breaths of fresh air, I find that all the excessive details wither away and life seems simpler. After all, this life is but a detour; life truly is a fading vapor. As the self-imposed complications of humanity slide from off my back I am reminded of true purpose. I lift my eyes from vacant goals and fix them on the blinding light of pure ecstasy; eternal rest with my father in heaven. Then as I glance to my left and right, I find my brothers and sisters. They are fixed upon this goal. Meanwhile, the world stumbles amidst us in a darkness that blinds the heart that has not been softened. Thank you God for friends, you know how very dear they are to me. I am greatful to you for providing this commodity amidst a fading vapor.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Christianity Isn’t a Brand Name

“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!”

-Acts 20: 28-30

I recently had the pleasure of discussing the term ‘Christian’ with a few close friends of mine. Here, in my opinion, is the first of our hurdles as modern-day believers. How many people do you know that claim to be Christians- quite a few? Please understand, I am not questioning the validity of anyone’s faith (I would be a fool to do so, only God can judge one’s heart). What I am calling into question is our lack of conviction. Our nation is full of spineless saints living in giant bowls of jello… an odd visual image if ever there was one! I see self-proclaimed believers walking about their lives with not so much as a second glance upwards to their savior. What’s worse, I all too often catch myself becoming accustomed to this easy-believe society! Christianity is not about sitting in a church pew once a week, or listening to the latest Christian music artist, or wearing Christian clothing with catchy phrases. Jesus isn’t your homeboy- he’s the sacrificed Lamb of God who plucked you from your filth and, amidst tears of love, died for your soul.

I recently received a postcard from a local church that read something like this- “Not in to the Church thing? That’s okay with us! Come check out our new game room and see if we fit you.” I stared for a moment in disbelief and then began to take a closer look at the world around me. It doesn’t take a genius to see it; it’s everywhere. Christianity isn’t taught as a lifestyle anymore, it has become trendy, trite, and all-encompassing. It’s not popular to talk about sin- after all, who wants to hear that their actions hung a holy man to a wooden cross and then bled him dry? Terms such as salvation, grace, and eternity are now replaced with the user-friendly fate, destiny, and accessibility. The personal relationship has become commercialized- we’ve turned Jesus in to a brand name.

Come now! We are called to be different; what a wonderful thing to be the one that sticks out in a crowd. At what point do we as the Christian body draw the line? I have heard the arguments before, “But Stephen, we are reaching millions who would never have otherwise given the gospel a second look?” That is all good and well, but what are you feeding these people? Are you giving them anything that is radically different from their own lives? It seems that all too often we are giving these people a lifestyle that is exactly the same as their own. The only difference is that the name ‘Jesus’ has been stamped on it… how is that spreading the gospel message? People aren’t stupid- they see through the smoke and mirrors. They make very real (and often all too true!) judgments of character concerning these individuals- “If that’s what being a Christian is, then I certainly don’t want any part in that!”

So where are we left at this point? It feels like an uphill battle; we are brothers and sisters amidst false sheep. It’s so easy to get frustrated, to want to throw the towel in and say, “I quit!”, but it is times like these that we need to stick in there and fight the good fight. Though churches all around us are crumbling to the ground under the shackles of easy-believism, we can make a difference through our thoughts and actions. Again, people aren’t stupid- they realize when something is real, when a life is led with conviction. Though we may be unwillingly caught up in the debate of Christian semantics, we can make a difference by doing one painfully simple thing- following Christ to the utmost letter.

I don’t write this to be discouraging- I hope it is quite the opposite! We serve a God who knows no bounds. I pray that our words would be full of God’s graceful redemption and that our actions would speak louder still! Hope you are all well- may you continue onward in this runnable race.

Light is Brightest Amidst Darkness

To my brothers and sisters running the race- I penned this a few years ago and was shaken aknew after reading it today with the reality of how deep and serious our sins are. Perhaps you know those epiphany moments I’m speaking of- where the full scope of your sinful nature washes over you and you suddenly realize how very undeserving you are of the grace of God. Yet in this darkness, at the dimmest of moments, the glory of God shines brightest. So I share this with you all to be of encouragement- God used this realization in one of my darker moments to show me the full extent of his love!

“And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” ” -Luke 23:34-35

Paul says in scripture that he is the most wretched of sinners. At times I want to cry it with utter defiance, “No you most certainly are not, I am!!!” The scariest moments of my entire life are those when I look down and realize how very close I come to teetering over the eternal edge of fire. Were it not for the protective railing of the murdered son of God, Jesus Christ, I would have fallen so very long ago into a pit no one can climb out of. Indeed I am the murder, I am the one that killed the son of God and yet… yet… I am saved through the very blood I spilt.

The weighing conviction of my guilt burdens my entire frame with the filthiness of my sin, the utter decrepit nature that my life takes on in these dark moments. But the conviction mingles with the joy of mercy and grace. The very son of man whom looked me in the eye and said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!” had in mind this very moment. This very moment of realization that comes upon a man, yes, even a man of God. The moment in which a man stops aimlessly bolstering forward and looks down at his bloody hands and says to himself, “This is my handiwork… is this the ‘good’ person I’ve become?”

Now there are two paths to walk from this point. The first that Judas took- he could not live with the guilt and let it overpower his soul. He killed himself and secured the eternal shame which is what we all deserve. The second path is the one Saul took. The man murdered hundreds of Christians and persecuted Christ, but the Lord saw fit to appear to him and to command him to change his ways. Of all the people who might feel guilt- this man turned to the ways of the people he had hated and killed for so long. But Saul, who now became Paul, realized something crucially important to those of suffering from this sinful disease (read here as all of humanity!). He realized that the smallest bit of Grace far outweighs the Guilt of our sins.

Yes with sin comes shame (this can be seen in the story of Adam and Eve as they hid themselves from the Lord) but also a hope that we might live a life anew without a permanent mark of death on our heads. When we sin, we should feel shame for what we have done, yet I do not believe that we should continue to stoop lower and lower and turn our eyes from the miracle that Calvary is. We should raise our tear-stained faces and shout praise and glory to the man who stretched out his arms and took the full fury of his father straight on as we stood safely behind him.

I know I am a wretched sinner, but I stand in the Lord’s hands through the promise that Jesus Christ has given me. I praise God, even now, for this encounter- that he has made this clear to me. I pray that he would see fit to use me as a man of God. I pray also that he would continue a work in me to mortify the stumbling blocks of my life, that I may be true to his word and do all that I can with this brief life to further his kingdom. This is not a faith of illusions, it’s a faith of reality. It’s a faith of promise and hope to live a life pure in the sight of God through a blood that cleanses even the most vile. Dear God I love you so very much- there is nothing in this universe that I love more than you. I beg you- have pity on this soul and teach me your ways.

A Prisoner’s Paradox

Here you are again… you throw your face into your hands and sigh a deep, frustrated sigh; pinned-down, waiting for the next stage of life to begin, sick of the now and aching for the future…

I think everybody has felt it before- the dull pang in your heart that makes you want to scream out, “Please Lord tell me what your will for my life is!”. It is a longing that seems to be unquenchable at times. It’s as if we become a prisoner inside our very skins- confined inside our own sinful human nature. The quest for more, whether it be spiritually, mentally, or physically, can become an all-consuming desire. This is a dangerous pursuit indeed considering that it can cause us to break our focus on the important things in life; that is the ONE important thing in this life. As is the case with most ‘unquenchable’ longings, we find assurance and rest in the broken Lamb, Jesus Christ.

As I continue onward through the book of Acts in my daily devotions, I came across the story of Paul and Silas in prison. To the outward eye the duo’s predicament was an inherently bad one. Prison in those days was not the government-subsidized, stopping point of law-breakers as it is today. For a great many it was the unfortunate resting place before trial and possible execution. The prison cells were disease-ridden, the guards were brutal, and we can only speculate that the food was a good deal less-than-appetizing. But we have a God who does not adhere to our human standards of what is or isn’t an appropriate place to experience the majesty and grace of Christ Jesus. Our God saves people from the vilest of places- filthy, unruly, distasteful prison cells included. God shook the foundations of the prison so that the cell containing Paul and Silas was at once opened. As anyone can imagine, the guard was shattered to his core with what had just occurred; by human standards, this should not be happening.

And then the paradox- Paul and Silas tell the guard not to be afraid, that they will not flee the prison though their cell has been opened. The guard, taking this in, realizes something truly awesome- he is the prisoner, not the men standing before him. The guard then asks the right question, “What must I do to be saved?” Notice he doesn’t say, “What does God have in store for the rest of my life?” or “How am I possibly going to deal with this radical change?” He needs only to know that he has the assurance of salvation.

What an awesome God we serve that can turn prison guards into prisoners and prisoners into the redeemed. God has been making this incredibly clear in my own life- so often I fail in the area of placing my complete trust in the blood that washes my sins away. I get impatient about my future; I want to know the answers to all my little nagging questions: Who will I marry? How will I make it through final exams? How am I supposed to take care of all these expectations with so little time? But he kindly and gently reminds me that I need only ask one question, “What must I do to be saved?” Now that’s cool.

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there giving approval to his death.”

-Acts 7:59, 8:1

As my mind wandered today, I came upon a realization of sorts. During my study in Acts I have found the account of the death of Stephen increasingly interesting. The event in and of itself, and the way it was handled by Stephen the martyr are humbling to say the least, but in the past I neglected to recognize the significance of Acts 8:1- “And Saul was there giving approval to his death.”

The words are written in direct contrast to the previous verses. A Godly man is presented in his final hours, praising the name of God to the very end, and on the other end of the spectrum there is a hate-filled man standing by and approving pain and suffering. I couldn’t help but think of how often I’m that approving man. So often I’m the milk-toast Christian who stands idly by so as to not ‘rock the boat’. It would seem that it is human tendency to avoid confrontation when possible. The thing is, we’re not called to coast through this life, and by doing nothing at all when confrontation comes our way, we make no headway! Faith has no purpose without action- one cannot and should not try to just ‘make it’ through life.

Here’s the wake up call- by doing nothing, that is, to live a life of weak conviction, is to give approval to the decay of society. I know that dramatic, but it’s really not when you think about it. As a good friend of mine and I have talked about from time to time, “Jesus isn’t a brand name.” Christianity isn’t an article of clothing you put on and pull off; its engrained, its living a changed life, its resolving to make your convictions known, its not compromising EVEN if that means confrontation, its about NOT giving approval to the foolish ways of a sinful world. A man’s failure to act may spare him confrontation in the here and now, but what is the lasting value? What are we ultimately accomplishing by our inaction?

Believe me, I don’t write this out of ill-intentions or a pointing finger. In truth, I’m writing this out of the conviction of my own heart. One of the biggest struggles I often have is to not want to cause confrontation- I just want to be everyone’s friend. The concept sounds innocent enough, even perhaps a just pursuit, but the problem lies in the fact that it is a self-satisfying desire. Oftentimes I don’t want to rock the boat, because it makes ME uncomfortable.

It is my prayer that myself and others would be given the grace of God to perceiver through those times of necessary confrontation. We should want to be like Stephen the Martyr who embraced the confrontation he was presented with and who chose to die for his faith rather than to settle for the degradation of it! I know its not always fun, but just knowing that you have a Savior who overcame the greatest of confrontations is peace of mind enough to continue onward in the runnable race.I hope you are all doing well and that God is blessing you- thank you to everybody who has been so kind and understanding this last week while I dealt with an extended workload and taxing school schedule. Your prayers were much appreciated! Have an awesome week!