"Apprehensive Children"

"Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalms 136:25)

  Maybe the problem may not be discouragement, but the lack of trust? We are just flesh and blood, so isn't only natural that we put limits upon how far out beyond these capabilities we are willing to go? Pastor Rick was sharing yesterday about what it takes to be a great leader and loving God; and he used the example of King Saul and King David to show the contrast between a man that has his focus upon himself, and a man that is focused upon God. What a difference a little direction makes when it comes to where our focus is! It reminded me of when Peter tried to walk on water. His first response to seeing Jesus walking on the water was to want to come out to join Him; but then he awoke to the reality of what he was and how impossible it was for him to do what he was doing. With God, everything is possible! Jesus said of the little children, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3) What pray tell does any of this have to do with food? I grew up spoiled, when it came to going hungry; I actually cannot remember a single day when my parents might have said, 'We don't have any food to feed you!' I do remember having to go to bed without eating, but that was because of my actions and not because there was not any food. I guess the best and quickest way to say this, is to just come right out and say it: We are children of God! Duh! Something else Jesus said, while He was talking to a woman at a well: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24) This gets back to that point about direction of focus, because, as God's children, we have already been converted because Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. There are two completely different directions for our focus to be placed, one is the flesh, and the other is the Spirit of God. Just like Peter's reaction, there is apprehension in how far we can go, if we can even have the courage to step out of the boat! What pray tell could possibly get in our way? Such is life! It's this constant battle we have between the flesh and the Spirit; which is precisely why Paul says that we must crucify the flesh! We are a New Creature because God has called us out of the darkness and into His marvelous Light; it is God that set this conversation in motion, and it is God that will get us to the finish line...

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation: because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (1 Peter 1:13-21)