Pair-a-docks
Thursday, February 14, 2013
First Week of Lent
Luke 9:23-24
Jesus said to everyone, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Every day … today … I walk toward the water. Every day I either walk up on the dock and wait for the boat to carry me across, or I can step into the water and see whether it will hold me up. The gravity of this situation promises me either life or death.
In today’s first reading, Moses exhorts those about to cross the Jordan River to “choose life, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.” With his intention Peter held fast to Jesus and walked on the water. For just a moment there, he found life.
Then something came over Peter and he sank. The same thing comes over me – my fear and my desperate desire to be in control, to save myself. So I sink too. Even if I take a step or two into the water I finally flail and beat on the water back to the dock.
God made the dock, too, right? He loves me. When Jesus invites me into his death, he promises me his resurrection. It’s just that I cannot save myself. Over and over he proves it to each one of his kids, each one of us. We are safe with Jesus. And we cannot save ourselves.
You made gravity, and you made me, Lord. So you also make the way straight for me to follow. When I take one open-eyed step at a time, your eyes draw me into your plans, your hope, your future. Never to harm me, always to save.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1138
