Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ:Matthew 14:22-36
Matthew 14:30 (NIV) "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!'"
Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
Roosevelt's words contain an important challenge for every serious follower of Jesus Christ. If we attempt nothing in our spiritual lives, we can succeed at nothing. However, if we try and fail in our God-given chances, we still can gain. Failure can have a positive side. A thin line separates our failure and success, but the distance between failing and not trying at all can be enormous.
Peter, one of the most important leaders of the early church, experienced failure on several occasions. Compare him with his fellow disciples. He failed to walk on water (Matthew 14:30). He failed in his attempt to keep Jesus from washing his feet (John 13:1-10). He failed to keep the mob from arresting Jesus (Matthew 16:21-23. But in every one of these attempts, Peter drew closer to Christ in his relationship with Him.
I believe there is no doubt that God is more pleased when we attempt to serve Him and fail than when we have opportunities and do nothing at all with them. With God's help, our failure can lead to victory or growth. But if we do nothing, we might as well be nonexistent.
Ask the Lord to empower you today to do His work and will as you step out in an act of faith.
Faith Lesson: History is correct: Behind every major success in the world, there was some kind of major risk.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
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Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, then learn to how make Jesus your Savior and Lord.
Check out the Daily Message Devotional's new and full-featured website at http://www.dailymessage.org
To subscribe to the Daily Message Devotional mailing list, please send a blank email to UICDevotions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
READ:Matthew 14:22-36
Matthew 14:30 (NIV) "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!'"
Theodore Roosevelt once said, "The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
Roosevelt's words contain an important challenge for every serious follower of Jesus Christ. If we attempt nothing in our spiritual lives, we can succeed at nothing. However, if we try and fail in our God-given chances, we still can gain. Failure can have a positive side. A thin line separates our failure and success, but the distance between failing and not trying at all can be enormous.
Peter, one of the most important leaders of the early church, experienced failure on several occasions. Compare him with his fellow disciples. He failed to walk on water (Matthew 14:30). He failed in his attempt to keep Jesus from washing his feet (John 13:1-10). He failed to keep the mob from arresting Jesus (Matthew 16:21-23. But in every one of these attempts, Peter drew closer to Christ in his relationship with Him.
I believe there is no doubt that God is more pleased when we attempt to serve Him and fail than when we have opportunities and do nothing at all with them. With God's help, our failure can lead to victory or growth. But if we do nothing, we might as well be nonexistent.
Ask the Lord to empower you today to do His work and will as you step out in an act of faith.
Faith Lesson: History is correct: Behind every major success in the world, there was some kind of major risk.
In Christ,
Darin Smith
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, then learn to how make Jesus your Savior and Lord.
Check out the Daily Message Devotional's new and full-featured website at http://www.dailymessage.org
To subscribe to the Daily Message Devotional mailing list, please send a blank email to UICDevotions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
