The Seventh Week of Easter: From FEAR to LIFE

STEP ONE: BREATHE

Take a deep, cleansing breath. Allow the air to fill your lungs and expand your body. Exhale and empty yourself into the room. Repeat three times - once for the one who Created you, once for the Incarnate One who walks beside you, and once for the Spirit whose life fills your being.

STEP TWO: DWELL IN WORD

“So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.””

— Matthew 14:29

A Jesus Story Retold : Before the Good News “FEAR NOT”

Peter, Peter, Peter…always the one to act before thinking. Peter looks bold in his actions but more often than not he misses the point or gets himself in one pickle after another.

Now, granted I too was afraid when we saw an object walking toward the boat. We were all convinced it was a ghost until we heard the voice of Jesus. You would have thought that would be the end of it but not with Peter. “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” What did he say? Did Peter think that he was on equal ground with Jesus? Did he really think Jesus would call him out of the boat and let him walk on water?

Peter didn’t wait for a reply. In typical Peter fashion one leg went over the side of the boat and then the other. The most surprising thing was that he didn’t immediately sink. Peter actually got a few steps in before the wind and waves caused him to lose focus and he began to sink. “Lord, save me!” he yelled.

Funny, as I reflect on it, this would not be the last time that Peter or rest of us would speak those words, “Lord, save me!” When we heard the call to follow Jesus it was an honor. None of us felt worthy enough to be called by this prophet, teacher, rabbi so we followed right away not really knowing what we were getting in to.

As time went on there were signs that this journey we were on following Jesus was becoming dangerous. There were more and more conflicts with the religious authorities who seemed to be more and more determined to get rid of Jesus. Also, the crowd sizes were becoming so large that several of us worried that they would gain the attention of the Roman authorities and that was very dangerous.

At first I never gave my own death even a thought. I was healthy and fit but now I do fear the death of Jesus and my own death. “Lord, save me!” will be spoken and heard again.

STEP THREE: PRAY

Sovereign God, so often we fool ourselves into believing that we are in control of our lives. We chose to deny our mortality and our dependence on you and the promise of the resurrection. Give us the courage to admit our fragility and the boldness to say “Lord, save me!” when it is the only rock on which we can stand. Amen.

Today’s devotion is by Pastor Dennis Sepper