BEING FOUND IN CHRIST
Matthew
14:25-33 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to
you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of
the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind,
he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
"The
local sheriff had decided to tighten the requirements for deputies. So the
deputies gathered to try their hand at hitting the target at the increased
distance. Each man had 18 seconds to get off 12 shots. The best shot in the
area...had been fitted with his first pair of trifocal glasses. Suddenly, as he
told me later, 'I began to perspire...There I was with a bead drawn on the
target and all I could see was fog. Then I remembered what our old navy
instructor had taught us: "If you ever lose sight of the target, just
remember your position." ‘So,' my friend said, 'I just held my position
and pulled the trigger...When I took off my glasses and wiped them, I saw that
I had hit the bulls-eye every time.'
There are
times when, for some reason, we lose sight of our target-which is to glorify
our Lord. The world is too much with us. Tears blur our vision. Unexplained
tragedy raises questions that cannot be answered and shakes our faith to its
foundations. Then we remember our position, for a Christian's position is
"in Christ." Though we may not see the target through the fog, if we
just "remember our position", we won't miss."
Our focus
at all times and in all places is to be on Jesus Christ. How would he respond?
What would he say or do? In faith we can step out and live as he has told us to
live. Without that focus we will flounder. We will hesitate and doubt. But with
the proper focus we “can do everything through him who gives [us] strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
Prayer:
Jesus, enable me to remain focused on you. Do not let me be distracted by
unbelievers of this world who neither know you nor believe that you exist. Make
yourself my all in all. Amen.