The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "A LITTLE DEEPER" for Friday, 14 October 2016 with Scripture: Matthew 12:23 The crowds were astounded and asked, “This couldn’t be the Son of David, could it?” 24 But when the P’rushim heard of it, they said, “It is only by Ba‘al-Zibbul” — the ruler of the demons — “that this man drives out demons.”25 However, knowing what they were thinking, Yeshua said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not survive. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; so how can his kingdom survive? 27 Besides, if I drive out demons by Ba‘al-Zibbul, by whom do your people drive them out? So, they will be your judges! 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you!
29 “Or again, how can someone break into a strong man’s house and make off with his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? After that he can ransack his house.
30 “Those who are not with me are against me, and those who do not gather with me are scattering. 31 Because of this, I tell you that people will be forgiven any sin and blasphemy, but blaspheming the Ruach HaKodesh will not be forgiven.
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Jesus immediately said to [his disciples]: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”[Matthew 14:27 (NIV)]
My two-year-old daughter stood hesitantly on the shore, the Gulf Coast waters inches away from her feet. “I’m scared,” she said adamantly. “It’s okay,” her aunt coaxed, “take just one step.” She took one baby step. “Okay,” said Aunt Nikki, “now just a little deeper.” She took another step and another while trustingly holding her aunt’s hand. “A little deeper, now a little deeper.” In a few moments my daughter was standing triumphantly waist deep in the shallow water. “I’m in! I’m in!” she shouted excitedly.
I envied her, thinking of all the times I’ve cheated myself of that same feeling of victory because I’m too scared to follow Jesus out a little deeper. How often have I chosen to stay up on the shore of insecurity? Our insecurities may make sense to us, but they keep us on the shore by constantly reminding us of the negative judgments of others. But Christ passes no such judgments. He does not want us to stay on the shore but coaxes us out to where we can find true intimacy and victory. “Just a little deeper,” he says. I want to feel the same joy my two-year-old felt as she jubilantly played in the waves — the feeling of victory over my fears and doubts and insecurities. But the path to that kind of joy lies out a little deeper.
See an image of the author with her daughter, here.
Thought for the Day: With Christ’s help, we can overcome our fears and insecurity.
Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us the courage to follow you out into a deeper Christian experience today. Amen.
Prayer focus: FOR COURAGE -------
Jesus immediately said to [his disciples]: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”[Matthew 14:27 (NIV)]
My two-year-old daughter stood hesitantly on the shore, the Gulf Coast waters inches away from her feet. “I’m scared,” she said adamantly. “It’s okay,” her aunt coaxed, “take just one step.” She took one baby step. “Okay,” said Aunt Nikki, “now just a little deeper.” She took another step and another while trustingly holding her aunt’s hand. “A little deeper, now a little deeper.” In a few moments my daughter was standing triumphantly waist deep in the shallow water. “I’m in! I’m in!” she shouted excitedly.
I envied her, thinking of all the times I’ve cheated myself of that same feeling of victory because I’m too scared to follow Jesus out a little deeper. How often have I chosen to stay up on the shore of insecurity? Our insecurities may make sense to us, but they keep us on the shore by constantly reminding us of the negative judgments of others. But Christ passes no such judgments. He does not want us to stay on the shore but coaxes us out to where we can find true intimacy and victory. “Just a little deeper,” he says. I want to feel the same joy my two-year-old felt as she jubilantly played in the waves — the feeling of victory over my fears and doubts and insecurities. But the path to that kind of joy lies out a little deeper.
See an image of the author with her daughter, here.
"Link2Life for October 14, 2016"
Upper Room author Sarah Jane Reeves with her daughter
The Author: Sarah Jane Reeves (Georgia, USA)Thought for the Day: With Christ’s help, we can overcome our fears and insecurity.
Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us the courage to follow you out into a deeper Christian experience today. Amen.
Prayer focus: FOR COURAGE -------
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