“It is I; Don’t Be Afraid”

When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid”.  Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (John 6:19-21)

Frustration. Fear. Desperation. Anxiety. Pain. Agony. Turmoil.

These are the different emotions we experience at least once a day. Some of us if we are honest, we sense it every moment! The situations we face are unique to our individual lives, but we end up being gripped by these common emotions.  Eventually, not knowing how to navigate through the “storm” we make poor choices that affect us for a lifetime.

Once the disciples of Jesus had to navigate through a storm that confounded them. But it was in the middle of the storm, they saw Jesus walking on the water towards them. Jesus calmly declared six words which initially terrified the disciples, but ultimately proved to be a vital comfort: “It is I; don’t be afraid”

These six words should be God’s word of comfort for us regardless of whatever we face in our lives:

Firstly, listen to Jesus’ voice irrespective of the decibel level of the storm around you. Listening to his voice and obeying him is the crucial compass to steer through the tempests of your life.

Secondly, treasure Jesus’ presence always. When Jesus said, “It is I; don’t be afraid” it was not just a mental acknowledgment of his presence. In fact, it was a bold declaration of his character as the Son of God and reminder that He is the “Great I am”. Basically, Jesus was stating, “I am ALL that you need in your life at ALL times. I am able to slay your worst storms and calm your greatest fears. I am with you. I am for you. I am your Savior and Lord.”

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Believe It or Feel It or Do It?

Christ-followers throughout history has developed interesting tendencies. Instinctively or deliberately based on their influences they forced themselves to perceive God’s Word and Jesus’ teachings towards one of these tendencies:

  • Just BELIEVE it – As long as you have the right beliefs or correct doctrine, you are a good Christ-follower. (your inner motivations or actions really doesn’t matter!)
  • Just FEEL it – As long as you have the right attitudes or motivations, you are a faithful Christ-follower. (your doctrines or your actions are secondary!)
  • Just DO it – As long as you are doing good in the world with the right actions, you are an excellent Christ-follower. (your belief systems or attitudes are not all that important!)

Even in the 21st century, entire church organizations or networks are driven by the values of one of these leanings. History is filled with painful stories of what happens when we are theoretically and doctrinally led astray by overemphasizing one over the other.

That brings us to an important question: what is the scriptural focus for every Christ-follower?

The Book of James provokes us to consider the most distinct pathway if we are to consider ourselves as an authentic Christ-follower. We need to have a balance of all three factors: right belief, right attitudes and right actions.

Right Beliefs based on God’s Word: But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:25)

Right attitudes based on a relationship with God: But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth…But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure… (James 3:14-17)

Right actions based on our faith in God: So, you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. (James 2:24)

Let us seek this week to carry this distinct pathway into our personal and public lives!

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How Creative You Are?

‘How creative you are?’

This question can evoke a variety of responses from us.

Version 1: The super-creative (and super-proud) among us would boldly confess that ‘we are the epitome of creativity’

Version 2: The super-creative (and self-effacing) among us would attempt to deflect the response to ‘there are lot of creative people in the world’

Version 3: The majority response would be to admit ‘I am not creative at all’!

A subtle version of version 3 would be to admit, ‘I am not really creative like Miss Super-creative’

‘Creativity’, seems to be a specialized ability of rare breed of people. This specialized ability apparently is developed, honed and perfected through hard work and professional training. For a miniscule community, they feel they are born creative-geniuses.

However, when we turn the Bible, we discover a greater reality: Creativity is God’s gift to all of His creation.

  • We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; Psalms 139:13-18)
  • Being crafted in His image propels us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)
  • Expression of His creativity in us is unique and special (Romans 12:3-8)

God enables us to be creative and make a difference in our world for His glory. Our best response is to surrender ourselves back to God, as willing vessels for His supreme mission in us and through us.

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Love…Learn…Live…Jesus

And this is the secret: Christ lives in you….

So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us… That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. (Colossians 1:27-29)

It does seem impossible. In fact, it appears unreasonable and unimaginable. Just to consider that God could live inside a human being seems unthinkable.

But through Jesus Christ, this absurd option has become an awesome reality.

The incarnation, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has changed the world forever. We no longer have to run our lives in our own strength and be lost in the painful realities of our world.  We have the privilege of allowing Christ to LIVE IN US and pursue His purposes for our lives.

Paul in his letter to the Colossian church was absolutely overwhelmed with the beauty and power of Christ living inside a Christ-follower. It unleashes and unbridles us to be all that God wants us to be on planet earth. We are no longer pathetic victims of our destiny, but passionate followers of His divine calling in our lives.

Therefore, if Christ lives in me, it makes it unquestionably crucial to make every moment of our lives count by seeking to:

  • Love Jesus supremely and follow Him alone
  • Learn Jesus’ ways and seek to imitate Him
  • Live Jesus in the world and make Him famous
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The Ultimate Goal

 “In the same way the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose. It says in the Bible that the whole universe was made for Christ and that everything is to be gathered together in Him.” —C. S. Lewis

 “That is exactly what we’re supposed to do! We’re supposed to identify with Jesus, act like Jesus, be like Jesus. That is what Christianity is supposed to be about: the imitation of Christ.” – Scott Peck

In football, the 22 players on the football field have one obsessive goal: to make sure the football crosses the goal-line of the opposition team. In fact, every player even while he is off the field is constantly training himself physically, mentally, and strategically to fulfill that ultimate goal.

We as Christ-followers live with this almost fanatical goal in life: to become like Christ in who we are and what we do. This goal is not just intensely pursued on a Sunday morning during the church service, or within the precincts of a church campus. We live our private and public lives throughout the week, passionately pursuing this goal to tangibly reflect Christ. Our thoughts, conversations, and actions seek to make Jesus real to people around us who have never seen Jesus.

Like Paul, lets make this bold declaration:

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death… Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:10,12,14

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Ton of Troubles to Ton of Testimonies

Long enough, GOD — you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough. Long enough I’ve carried this ton of trouble, lived with a stomach full of pain. Long enough my arrogant enemies have looked down their noses at me.

Take a good look at me, GOD, my God; I want to look life in the eye, So no enemy can get the best of me or laugh when I fall on my face.

I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms— I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers.” — Psalm 13:1-6 MSG

Short psalm. But captures our daily reality.

Scene 1– TON of troubles for which we have no solution for. Troubles that make us question ‘where is God when I need Him’

Scene 2: We make a desperate plea to God to DO SOMETHING about our status. An eager desire that God of the universe would take a good look at us.

Scene 3: We decide to live a lifestyle of FAITH and TRUST where we have launched ourselves into God’s  arms. Even when we don’t see a miracle, we celebrate the miracle. We sing loudly, knowing God is running the show. We walk in confidence knowing that with God there is always answers to our prayers. Not the way we want it. Not at the time we want it. But there is an answer that we will be glad God chose to rewrite the story, instead of following our script.

That’s why daily our TON OF TROUBLES CAN BECOME A TON OF TESTIMONIES!

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In Your WORST, Discover God’s BEST…

When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, …(The Bible)
When we are facing our worst circumstances or the deepest valleys, we usually end up:

Complaining.

Worrying.

Hurting.

Fighting.

Anxious.

Bitter.

Reckless.

Shattered.

Broken.

(Add  any other adjective you can think off)

But the Bible invites us to do ONE thing:

At our WORST, ‘rehearse’ the BEST about God and His ways.

‘Rehearse’ means to simply:

Go over again.

Remind.

Remember about all of His ways and Words

Ponder about his miracles in our lives.

When we intentionally practice this personal ‘rehearsal’, God does not promise us that we would be out of the valley.

But something better happens.

We are drawn to discover  God’s best in our WORST possible scenario.

We make a few interesting personal discoveries:

God never fails.

He is faithful.

He is loving.

He is always there.

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Why You Shouldn’t Work Too Hard

If GOD doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If GOD doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?” — Psalm 127:1-2 MSG

We can do all that we can. We can do all that we want. We can do all that we dare to do.

But at the end of the day, if God is not at the centre of our lives designing our life’s pathway, we are wasting our time.

We may think we are building the most beautiful mansion which will last for a lifetime, but it is a sand castle that will be swept away by the next wave.

So, no point working too hard, planning too much, super-designing everything, because it won’t last if God is not leading  the charge.

Rather, if God is leading us, we work out of a deep relationship with God. In rest, in peace, in power and a sense of following God wherever he goes.

Psalm 131 expresses the ‘joy of surrender’ in everything we do. Imagine the power of living a surrendered life in all that we do:

“GOD, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for GOD. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!”

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