"Your path led through the sea, Your pathway through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen, a pathway no one knew was there!" (Psalm 77:19, NIV & NLT)
I wonder how many times, how many seasons of my life our Lord Jesus was on the, "....pathway through the mighty waters...," with me and I knew is not, how many times I was caught up in my own trouble, my own heartache, my own self-absorption as Jesus was "walking" with me, in me, sustaining me.
Sometimes the reality of, "....Your footprints were not seen," comes when we are living in a known sin, rebellion, or loneliness, sadness, despair. It is in those times/seasons that many think Jesus has "left" one on his own, or at least is less concerned, less shepherding than when we are dancing around in worship, visiting the nursing home, passing out tracks, or some other such endeavor which it is then too easy to say, "Now the Lord is surely favorable towards me." Really? Does the message of, "....not of works lest any man should boast...," mean nothing to us? If we for one moment think that praying 8 hours a day, participating in some "presence conference," doing mission work, feeding the poor and hungry gives us more salvation status, then we have learned nothing of Biblical grace.
In June of 1970, I stood at the grave of Stephen. I was numb, "alone," not knowing anything. Jesus was "standing" there with and in me. Was I cognitively aware that Jesus was walking, "....through the sea,..through the mighty waters," with me? I cannot fully remember. I do know, however, that I felt as though I was about to drown in those waters. I was on, "a pathway no one knew was there" (NLT). Many around me reminded me of the, "exceeding great and precious promises." I in no way discount such love and support. At times such as that, do all we know to do, but always realize there is something about this life that is full of, "....a pathway no one knew was there!"
Take courage, my friend. Whatever befalls us, you know as well as I that whether, "....through the sea," or, "....through the mighty waters," Jesus Christ Is, "The Lord," Who, "is my Shepherd,...even though [we] walk through the valley of the shadow of death." Hear Him: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out," not now, not ever. Furthermore, "I Am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever...." Glorious Life preserver, "....through the mighty waters...no one knew was there".
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that when and what I cannot see never keeps You from me. Amen.
I wonder how many times, how many seasons of my life our Lord Jesus was on the, "....pathway through the mighty waters...," with me and I knew is not, how many times I was caught up in my own trouble, my own heartache, my own self-absorption as Jesus was "walking" with me, in me, sustaining me.
Sometimes the reality of, "....Your footprints were not seen," comes when we are living in a known sin, rebellion, or loneliness, sadness, despair. It is in those times/seasons that many think Jesus has "left" one on his own, or at least is less concerned, less shepherding than when we are dancing around in worship, visiting the nursing home, passing out tracks, or some other such endeavor which it is then too easy to say, "Now the Lord is surely favorable towards me." Really? Does the message of, "....not of works lest any man should boast...," mean nothing to us? If we for one moment think that praying 8 hours a day, participating in some "presence conference," doing mission work, feeding the poor and hungry gives us more salvation status, then we have learned nothing of Biblical grace.
In June of 1970, I stood at the grave of Stephen. I was numb, "alone," not knowing anything. Jesus was "standing" there with and in me. Was I cognitively aware that Jesus was walking, "....through the sea,..through the mighty waters," with me? I cannot fully remember. I do know, however, that I felt as though I was about to drown in those waters. I was on, "a pathway no one knew was there" (NLT). Many around me reminded me of the, "exceeding great and precious promises." I in no way discount such love and support. At times such as that, do all we know to do, but always realize there is something about this life that is full of, "....a pathway no one knew was there!"
Take courage, my friend. Whatever befalls us, you know as well as I that whether, "....through the sea," or, "....through the mighty waters," Jesus Christ Is, "The Lord," Who, "is my Shepherd,...even though [we] walk through the valley of the shadow of death." Hear Him: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out," not now, not ever. Furthermore, "I Am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever...." Glorious Life preserver, "....through the mighty waters...no one knew was there".
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that when and what I cannot see never keeps You from me. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
