Read or not 2015, here I come!

As this year comes to an end there are best of 2014 lists made by many people in many categories. People reflect on the highlights and the major events of the year. For me as I look back over 2014 I would have to say that there were certainly more difficult times this year than good times. In 2014 there were too many people we watched lose struggles to sicknesses and diseases. We had to say good bye to too many too early. Fortunately these I speak of were in the Lord so they are truly in a place of peace and comfort, but those left behind are still left with a void and questions. Why aren't are prayers always answered?

2014 also brought more than it's share of struggles in relationships. This shouldn't surprise us Jesus says in Matthew 10:... “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; ³⁶ and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.   When there were just 2 brothers Cain and Able, they couldn't get along.   Jesus Himself was questioned by His own family and it was the religeous leaders, the church, who had Him arrested and crucified. Our lives will include struggles in relationships.

In 2014 I believe we also saw our nation, our society and culture move deeper into darkness. Our government continues to pass laws against Christian values. Our public schools push a progressive amoral agenda to even our youngest children. The church, the institutional church, faces difficult decisions about how it will respond to the changing social, moral and political pressures. Yet as the society and  the culture fall farther into this darkness we know that Jesus sees a different future for His church. Ephesians 5:27 says this of the future of the church.   that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

That is our challenge in all things. To see things as God sees them. We are called to walk by faith, not by sight(2 Corinthians 5:7) We have a choice to make each day as the storms of life rage around us. Look at this account from Matthew 14:

²² Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. ²³ After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. ²⁴ But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. ²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷ But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

²⁸ Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ²⁹ And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³ And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

Jesus calls us, like Peter to step out of the boat in faith. Each day we need to constantly choose to keep our focus on Jesus, the object of our faith. As long as we look into Jesus face we can walk through the storm. We also have the confidence of knowing that if we, like Peter begin seeing the wind, become frightened and begin to sink, we can call out Lord save me! Immediately Jesus will stretch out His hand and take hold of us.

I don't know what 2015 holds. But this I do know, whatever comes I will walk through it looking into the face of Jesus. I invite you to join me on the journey. In 2015 I will again use the One Year Bible as my primary devotional study and my reflections in "nuggets". I am amazed at how even though I have read through the Bible year after year since the late 80's, there continues to be new revelation and fresh manna in God's word. From Genesis to Revelation we see God's plan to restore His creation. 

Jesus has called and commissioned us as believers. He says in Matthew 28:

 "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

Mark 16 says this:  “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷ These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”    

We are not called to a passive faith. Jesus calls us to step out of the boat. Will you join me? Will you join Him?

Ready or not 2015, Here I come!