“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:25-27, 33
While laying on my back in bed yesterday, feeling the coolness of antibiotics fluid in the IV from my morning infusion, I was listening to a radio evangelist asking of his listeners; “So, what are you afraid of?” We read in Matthew 14:22-33 what Peter and the other disciples feared. Peter, the brave one, asked Jesus to make it possible for him to walk out on the water and be with Him. Peter walked out and then began to sink when he realized where He was and satan brought him back to this world and the power of gravity.
What fears do you have in your life’s journey? Health, money, relationships, wrong directions or non-productive temptations? The children who attend the school at Pont Quenepe in the Artibonite District fear that when they go to school, the pot of food will be empty and the fire will be out. The vodou priest is telling them that God does not love them, Jesus is still in the grave and the power of the Holy Spirit cannot match their evil spirits. The gangs in Gonaives tell their parents to keep the little kids home. The children attending school here check every morning to make sure the fire is burning, and they, like us and the disciples can exclaim “truly you are the Son of God.”
So what are you afraid of today? Worried that your donation will be too small and insignificant? Twenty-one dollars will fill the pot at Pont Quenepe. God continues to fill the pot at 210 schools with Trinity HOPE feeding programs in Haiti every day. “Truly, you are the Son of God!” The first verse of the song ‘Have no Fear little flock’ pairs up very well with this scripture and these words are a gentle reminder that we truly have nothing to fear. “Have no fear, little flock, have no fear little flock. For the Father has chosen to give you the Kingdom, have no fear, little flock.”
Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold on to what is good; return no man evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the suffering; honor all men; love and serve the Lord; rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And may almighty God, the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit bless you.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay