I'm sure you have heard the story in Matthew 14:22-33, about Peter being in a boat, with the other disciples, and things get stormy.
Here's a summary:
In the wee hours of the morning, they see Jesus coming to them on the water, but they think it's a ghost. Jesus told them not to be afraid, "It is I."
Peter tells Jesus, if it's really Him, to call him out on the water with Him. Jesus calls, Peter comes, and after walking on water he becomes afraid and sinks.
Right when he begins to sink, Peter cries out, "Lord, save me!"
And, in verse 31, it says "immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him," and also rebukes him for not having faith and doubting.
Next, they are in the boat, and everyone worshiped Jesus.
I watched a sermon today by Judah Smith. The video is below, if you care to take the time to watch it yourself (and I highly recommend that you do so). In this sermon, among other things, Judah talks about Romans 8:1, which says:
Yes, we've all memorized this verse and recited it to others and used it to beat ourselves over the head with the truth when we are mired in a sinful or shameful situation. But it is amazing, when you truly think about it, what this "no condemnation" means.
We are without God's disapproval and we are without His punishment.
Understanding that we are without both of these is important. We may know and believe we are saved and will spend eternity in Heaven. But it isn't just in eternity that God desires for us to enjoy unfettered fellowship with Him.
He loves and accepts and does not condemn us right now.
Peter, for all his bumbling, did not wallow in condemnation. He was rebuked by the mouth of Jesus, but then immediately praised Him.
How different would we live our lives, if instead of wallowing in self-pity and regret, we turned immediately to Jesus and began to worship Him and to revel in the amazing grace that has saved and restored and redeemed our relationship with our Father in heaven?
What if, instead of trying to "process" our feelings about ourselves, we focused on the Father? What if we live like we truly believe that we are not condemned, in ANY way?
How would that look?
Linking with others for:
Here's a summary:
In the wee hours of the morning, they see Jesus coming to them on the water, but they think it's a ghost. Jesus told them not to be afraid, "It is I."
Peter tells Jesus, if it's really Him, to call him out on the water with Him. Jesus calls, Peter comes, and after walking on water he becomes afraid and sinks.
Right when he begins to sink, Peter cries out, "Lord, save me!"
And, in verse 31, it says "immediately, Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him," and also rebukes him for not having faith and doubting.
Next, they are in the boat, and everyone worshiped Jesus.
I watched a sermon today by Judah Smith. The video is below, if you care to take the time to watch it yourself (and I highly recommend that you do so). In this sermon, among other things, Judah talks about Romans 8:1, which says:
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Yes, we've all memorized this verse and recited it to others and used it to beat ourselves over the head with the truth when we are mired in a sinful or shameful situation. But it is amazing, when you truly think about it, what this "no condemnation" means.
We are without God's disapproval and we are without His punishment.
Understanding that we are without both of these is important. We may know and believe we are saved and will spend eternity in Heaven. But it isn't just in eternity that God desires for us to enjoy unfettered fellowship with Him.
He loves and accepts and does not condemn us right now.
Peter, for all his bumbling, did not wallow in condemnation. He was rebuked by the mouth of Jesus, but then immediately praised Him.
How different would we live our lives, if instead of wallowing in self-pity and regret, we turned immediately to Jesus and began to worship Him and to revel in the amazing grace that has saved and restored and redeemed our relationship with our Father in heaven?
What if, instead of trying to "process" our feelings about ourselves, we focused on the Father? What if we live like we truly believe that we are not condemned, in ANY way?
How would that look?
Linking with others for:
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