As I pondered upon how Peter (pre-apostolic person) cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (MATTHEW 14:31, NIV), I saw how Peter was in real danger of drowning at sea + he cries out, “Lord, save me” echoing the prayer of the Psalmist in his peril, “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me” (PSALM 69:1-2, NIV), yet Jesus drew Peter up with a firm grip and a gentle rebuke, saying “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”And, here, Jesus is committed to bringing out the deep rock within him, even if it means bringing up the sponge first.
Truly, the prophet says, “If you don’t stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all” (ISAIAH 7:9, NIV), indeed, faith is not what rescues you. Faith is what guides you (RALPH WINTER) as he highlighted this point inside the 40 Days (2019) devotional text. Truly, walking by faith in a storm-tossed world entails great risk, like skating on thin ice but if it’s for countless others in peril at sea, then it has cost in something.
Indeed, Hudson Taylor knew that God called him and how he raised up new missionaries to penetrate China’s interior. This was uncharted waters in the history of world missions. And, one Sunday morning in June 1865, on Brighton beach, the Lord conquered his unbelief.
Then and there, Taylor surrendered himself to God for this new mission. This one act of surrender led to the founding of the China Inland Mission (now OMF) which sent thousands of new workers to break new ground in China’s unreached interior, as he highlighted this point inside the 40 Days (2019) devotional text.
Today, I allow my faith cling onto Jesus like a life vest. Indeed, prayer is not a fine art but a desperate cry, as one cries out unto the LORD, as I did my weekend’s reading.
May our faith cling onto Jesus like a life vest today!
(Written by Jeremy Koh, 6th July 2019)
Profile Background:
Jeremy Koh is a disabled graduate from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore – formerly known as Spastic Children Association (1987-1997). He graduated with Certificates in Microsoft Office Skills. Jeremy has worked in ServeHope Pte Ltd – Project Assistant/Email Marketing Consultant for 5 years (March 2008 – August 2013). And, Jeremy did a research work for the keyguard at (these)abilites Pte Ltd handling all KeyGuard Operations for 10 months in World United College South East Asia (Tampines Branch). He was Executive Assistant with Vision Strategy Storytelling (3 months, Aug to Oct 2017). Jeremy worked as GB Connector in GrowthBeans Team in Savior-Asia Consulting Pte Ltd (October 2018 to December 2019). Today, he continues to be in GB Youth Organizing Team/as a GB Youth Facilitator in YouthCorps Singapore, a former member of the Special Needs Cluster in YCS, and a Founder in the ground up initiative project called – Project Story for LIFE that serves the Special Needs Community at-large in society today.
Prayer Response to this featured article:
Jesus, help us cling onto you as a life vest today.
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