Main Street Baptist Church

(Friday, July 3, 2009) (Written as if Matthew might have written it.) 

Day after day I say in my booth by the road Via Maris. Business was good. I could anything I wanted, as long as I turned some of it over to Rome. It was an easy way to get rich fast. Of course I wasn’t very popular, especially not with the Jews. They rejected me, saw me as a traitor. I wasn’t even allowed in their synagogues, but who needs them! I was rich and secure. Still, I must admit that my money meant less and less to me as I got more and more of it. It just wasn’t bringing the happiness and peace I thought it would.

Then I saw Him coming down the road. He regularly paid taxes to me. I had heard of His teachings and miracles, of His talks about forgiveness and the coming Kingdom of God. Whenever He came I always avoided eye contact with Him, for it made me feel guilty and dirty. Still, He was always nice to me. In fact, several times He talked to me about a better life, about giving up all this to follow Him. A few years earlier I would have laughed at the idea. He didn’t have any money, not even a home -- He had nothing! How could being a penniless traveler be better than being rich and feared? Lately, though, I found myself thinking about Him quite often. I felt strangely drawn to Him, even wondering what it would be like to give it all up and follow Him. I never thought about it long, for I never thought He’d have me! Still, I envied those who could be with Him. I figured I could help His cause best by staying away from Him.

This time He stopped at my table and I was surprised. I knew He’d moved here, to Capernaum, from Nazareth (Mt 4:13-16). It had something to do with being rejected in His home town (Luke 4:16-30) -- boy, did I know what that was like! But why had He come to my booth? He didn’t owe any taxes, what did He want?

“FOLLOW ME” He invited (Mt 9:9-13; Mk 2:13-17; Lk 5:27-32). I was stunned! He not only spoke to me, but He wanted me to travel with Him. He wanted me to identify myself with Him. He was even willing to identify Himself with me. All of a sudden it seemed like a great idea! Why not? I thought -- life is empty this way. This money thing isn’t all I thought it would be. There was just something about Him that attracted me. I realized I had really made the decision inside long ago, I just never thought it would be possible! I closed up my books, shut the booth and left. I followed Him from then on. I sold the booth and business and returned as much dishonest gain as I could. I used the rest of my money to help support Jesus and His followers. People were shocked that I’d want Him, but I think they were even more shocked that He’d want me! It was the best move I’ve ever made!

One of the first hurdles I faced was getting along with my new fellow followers of Jesus. We had been enemies for years, and it took a bit of work on both sides to see each other as friends and comrades. The fishermen were the hardest, for they were the most outspoken in all areas.

CAPERNAUM, despite being a good agricultural area, was mainly a fishing town. Capernaum was right on the Sea of Galilee. The lake was 8 miles wide by 12 miled top to bottom. It was shaped like a pear. Jesus did most of His miracles and teaching on the banks of this lake. Jews loved fish much more than red meat, and were willing to pay dearly for it. Commercial fishing flourished. It was done by nets which had floats on one edge and weights on the other. A second boat, or a fisherman in the water, would pull the net togther, trapping fish inside. It was hard, tiring, often frustrating work. When not fishing the men spent many long hours cleaning and repairing their nets, for they were constantly tearing or decaying. Musht, biny and sardines were the main fish that were caught.

I remember one day, about a month before Jesus called me from my booth, that I was watching Peter, Andrew, James and John come in from a long night of fishing. They didn’t catch anything. They had just cleaned the nets and were ready to go to bed when Jesus told them to go out into deep water and try again (Luke 5:1-10). Everyone knew it was the wrong time of day and wrong place to fish, plus the nets would need to be cleaned and dried all over again! I was surprised to see them obey, but even more surprised to see the great number of fish they caught! It really hit Peter heard, for that’s when he realized that Jesus truly was God. Jesus’ response to them all was, “Don’t be afraid, from now on you will catch men!”

Soon after He repeated His call, “Come, follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mt 4:18-22; Mk 1:16-20). Actually 8 of Jesus’ 12 disciples were fishermen. Little did I know that Jesus would very soon come and call me to leave my work and follow Him, too. “Fishers of men.” The phrase stuck with me and I thought of it as I began following Jesus. There obviously was a real similarity between fishing for fish and bringing others to Jesus.

For one thing, we need to FISH actively. We can’t sit back and wait for the fish catch themselves! We are to be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium. We can’t be fearful of rejection, as Nicodemus was. Also, fishermen must fish offensively. They must go to where the fish are. Sometimes it is inconvenient and costly, but it must be done. Fishing must be done seriously, too. It is not just a fun pastime for God’s children. Fishermen in Galilee had to catch fish or starve. Fishing for men is more serious, for what happens to the fish that aren’t caught? They end up in hell forever.

Because of this we must fish determinedly. The purpose of fishing is to catch fish! Fishermen weren’t showing off equipment or working on their tan. They were determined to catch fish. In order to do this they must fish tactfully. Different fish are caught by different bait. Some are caught best in groups, others alone. It takes study and skill, experience and work to get good at it. Jesus ‘fished’ differently for the woman at the well than he did for Nicodemus. Thus fishermen must fish continually. They aren’t going to catch any fish if they don’t have their net or bait in the water. When not fishing, they are getting ready for the next time they fish: repairing and cleaning nets, etc. We, too, must be continually fishing or getting ready to fish. Time spent in prayer and Bible study is essential to successful fishing.

Most fishermen fish lovingly -- they enjoy what they do. That is to be our sacrificial motive for telling others about Jesus. RA Torrey, a great evangelist of years ago, once said: “I would rather win souls than be the greatest king or emperor on earth; I would rather win souls than be the greatest general that ever commanded an army; I would rather win souls than be the greatest poet or novelist, or literary man who ever walked the earth. My ONE ambition in life is to win as many as possible. Oh, it’s the only thing worth doing -- to win souls.” For this to happen we must fish patiently. Fishing is hard, difficult work that takes lots of patience. Perhaps that’s why there are less fishermen today. All animals that are successful fishermen are patient. Finally fishermen on the Sea of Galilee had to fish cooperatively. They are more effective when they work together. Jesus sent out His disciples two by two.

“COME,” He said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” If we do the COMING then He will do the MAKING. We can’t make ourselves fishers of men, but we can offer ourselves as available for Him to make fishermen of us.

Following this Jesus went out with His new disciples so they could learn to fish for men following His example. He taught, healed and delivered (Mt 4:23-25; Mk 1:21 - 2:12; Luke 4:31 - 5:26). Following this is when He came to me and asked me to follow Him and fish for men (Mt 9:9-13; Mk 2:13-17; Lk 5:27-32). I immediately started doing so. I invited all my friends to my house to meet Jesus for themselves (Mt. 9:14-17; Mk 2:18-22; Lk 5:33-39). I wanted them to find what I had found, and many of them did.

I spent the next 3 years with Jesus, and after He died I stayed in Judea for a dozen years, preaching and witnessing. Then I went to Ethiopia and Persia. Since I was well educated I was able to speak to kings about my Savior. I wrote the Gospel of Matthew, too. I had good response there, reaping what the wise men (Magi) had sown a generation before. I died in Egypt having my head split open with an ax. I was a tax collector, I was a disciple, but mainly I was a fisher of men. Are you?

(Wednesday, July 29, 2009) 

TO: Jesus, Son of Joseph

Woodcrafters Carpenter Shop, Nazareth

FROM: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem

RE: Staff Team Evaluation:

Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; and we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational aptitude consultant. It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, sons of Zebedee, place personal interests above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel it our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely have radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic- depressive scale. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self explanatory. We wish you every success in your new venture.

Sometimes we look back at the disciples as special, spiritual giants. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you would have been making the choices of disciples, you wouldn’t have picked the ones Jesus did. Why did He choose traitors, fishermen, uneducated workers and rejects from society? He chose them because they were available. He doesn’t look at our ability. He can give or take that as He wants. He looks for AVAILABILITY. That’s all we can give Him, that’s all He wants. Nothing else matters.

‘Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer Though it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin, But held it up with a smile.

“What am I bid, good folk?” he cried. “Who’ll start the bidding for men?

A dollar, a dollar -- now two, only two -- tow dollars, and who’ll make it three?”

“Three dollars once, three dollars twice, Going for three” -- but no!

From the room far back a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening up all the strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet, As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: “What am I bid for the old violin?” And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars -- and who’ll make it two? Two thousand -- and who’ll make it three?

Three thousand once and three thousand twice -- And going and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We do not quite understand.

What changed its worth?” The man replied: The touch of the master’s hand.

And many a man with life out of tune, And battered and torn with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine, A game -- and he travels on,

He’s going once, and going twice, He’s going - and almost gone!

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought By the touch of the Master’s hand.

Remember, God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

(Monday, June 29, 2009)  By the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus

The days started like any other typical day in Capernaum. We woke up and started going about our daily business of working of working or shopping. I was learning how to repair nets for the fishing boats on the Sea of Galilee so I could one day be a fisherman. James, John, Peter and Andrew were out of town so only one boat would go out today. We were expecting them back soon, any day now. Jesus had sent them out by two’s to teach and heal.

Jesus Himself was seated nearby, looking out over the water as if something was bothering Him. Later I was told He just found out that His cousin, good friend and partner in ministry, John the Baptizer, had just been killed by having his head cut off! Perhaps Jesus was mourning him and wondering if what happened to the herald would happen the one who followed.

It wasn’t long until people discovered Jesus and started demanding he heal the sick they brought. Weren’t they sensitive to His needs? Didn’t they respect His privacy? No wonder He had to slip away at night to be alone to pray.

As the sun worked its way up the sky and I completed my task, my attention was caught but a large, loud group moving quickly to where Jesus was patiently teaching and healing. There was Peter in the front, with John, James and Andrew with them. I knew it was too late to go fishing since that usually was done in the cooler evening or early morning hours, so they probably wouldn’t be coming for their boat. Instead I went over to where they were approaching Jesus.

They were all excited, everyone shouting to be heard over everyone all, all with great stories of the success they had enjoyed as they taught, healed and cast out demons in Jesus’ name. The bedlam was so great Jesus couldn’t hear them, so He motioned for them to get into the remaining fishing boat and push out. I didn’t know if Jesus was going to teach from the boat again, but they kept on going. Obviously Jesus wanted time alone to listen to them and share their excitement while also sharing His ominous news about their mutual friend, John, and its implications for them.

The people who had gathered weren’t to be put off so easily, though. Some started running along the shore to cut across to where they thought the boat might land so they could continue their demands for Jesus’ attention. I followed along, grabbing up the lunch my mother had packed for my noon meal as I passed by the newly-mended nets.

The boat didn’t put ashore but kept traveling, so we kept following. They would have to land somewhere, so we kept following. More and more people caught up to us and others from the town we passed through as we follow the shoreline northeastward also joined in. Soon there was a large group making its way around the lake on foot.

Eventually we arrived at the spot where the boat was landing and swarmed around Jesus and the disciples. I knew Peter and James well, and it was obvious they and the others were quite put out at Jesus because they wanted all His attention just to themselves. Jesus, though, had compassion and patience for the people.

The day was already well advanced and it was past time for our noon meal. I had my lunch but soon realized no one else had brought food. There was no place to buy enough food for such a large crowd for a quick estimate reveled there were at least 5,000 men. Add to that children and women and we numbered over 20,000. It would cost a fortune to buy enough food for all of us, ever if it had been available. I was hesitant to eat my lunch in front of everyone, knowing that wouldn’t be polite. But I surely was getting hungry!

Jesus was sensitive to all our needs and realize we were getting quite hungry. He asked His disciples, who had just seen God do many miracles through them, to handle the situation but it seems they forgot their newly-leaned lessons and didn’t know how to feed us. Andrew had been talking to me and noticed my lunch so he told Jesus about it, thinking that at least Jesus would have something to eat even if the rest of us didn’t. When he asked me for it I was hesitant to give it up, for mother know I was a growing boy and quite hungry and given my 5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish. Reluctantly I gave it up, knowing mother would be proud of my manners under the circumstances. After all, sharing with Jesus was a real privilege.

Now we had been watching Jesus do miracles all day, but this one was special because it benefited all of us and not just someone else. A miracle is really what it was, for when Jesus took my food, prayed for it, and broke it to eat it, instead of eating it He passed it to the disciples. Only He kept breaking and breaking and breaking and giving, giving, giving. Yet that same small loaf was still in His hands – it never got smaller! In fact, the food just multiplied. It increased so fast that there was enough for each of us to eat our fill and even have 12 fell baskets left over.

I used to think that I was too young to do anything for God. After all, I was just a child. Then I started thinking of other children God had used. David was a young boy when he killed a lion, bear and Goliath. Samuel started serving God in the temple when he was about 4 years old. Josiah was 8 when he became he became king and let the people back to God. Then there was the Jewish servant girl who sent Naaman to Elisha to be healed. I remembered that Jesus had told the disciples to let children come to Him when they tried to keep us away. I even heard Him once say that adults needed to have faith as us children had. That made me feel good. I guess God can use a child. He often has in the past.

I was thrilled to think that Jesus did all that with my little lunch! It made me think, if He can use something small as my lunch, perhaps He could use someone as small as me. If I gave Him my life, would He use and multiply it, too, for His glory, like the fish? Somehow I think so. I’ll find out, I guess, for I’ve given Him my heart to use for His honor and glory as well. Have you?

(Friday, June 26, 2009)  What a change Jesus made in my life! Where would I have been if He hadn’t gone out of His way to speak to me (John 3)? Next He headed north and spoke to a woman at a well in Samaria (John 4). He approached us differently, but gave the same message to each of us. I’ve often thought about those encounters. Using Jesus as my example, not only of how to live but also of how to witness, has always helped me. I’d like to pass some of these lessons on to you.

1. Use every opportunity to tell about Jesus. Jesus was not too tired to talk to me even though it had been a long day for Him. He could have thought I already knew since I was a Bible scholar. But he took time to talk to me. He talked to people of all ages and backgrounds, from children to old people.

2. Witnessing is dialogue, not monologue. Jesus didn’t lecture me, he listened to my responses. He took my confusion and concerns seriously.

3. Patiently repeat, explain and illustrate. Theology can be abstract and hard to understand. Illustrations, examples and stories help a lot. Jesus used physical birth as an analogy of spiritual birth with me. I didn’t understand it right away, but before long the parallel sunk in. He also used the wind as a picture of the Holy Spirit and the serpent on a pole in the wilderness as a picture of Himself on the cross. Witnessing is like serving a meal. It takes more than good nutrition, it must be tastefully and artfully presented to make the eater desire to partake.

4. Don’t get bogged down at any one point. Don’t get into an argument or meaningless theological discussion when witnessing. Jesus kept our conversation moving, but He kept it on point. When the woman at the well wanted to talk about which religion was right He gently brought the topic back to her need and His provision of salvation.

5. Use questions. Jesus asked questions to find out what I knew and where I was at spiritually. They got me involved and thinking. He also used them to make important points.

6. Lead people to trust you and your experience. Jesus wasn’t afraid to call others to trust and believe in Him. I learned to share my own testimony with others. It was something they could understand and identify with, they couldn’t debate the truth of it, it proves that what Jesus offers is practical and works, and it doesn’t put them on the spot.

7. Warn about God’s judgment on unbelievers. Jesus clearly told me that those who didn’t accept His free gift of salvation were under judgment and destined for hell. No one likes to talk about hell, but Jesus said that is to be part of our message (Mark 16:15-16).

8. Go to people, don’t wait for them to come to you. Jesus WENT to Samaria, where no ‘good’ Jew would ever go! He never told unbelievers to go to Christians, but Christians to go to unbelievers (Mark 16:15). He said we are all missionaries, and our mission field is the next person we meet who hasn’t accepted Jesus as His Savior.

9. One to one is the best way to witness. When Jesus got to the well near Sychar He sent His disciples into town for food so He could talk to the woman alone. One on one, personal, is still the best way to communicate anything. It was especially meaningful to the woman in Samaria for she was used to being ostracized and ignored by everyone, that’s why she came to well in the hottest time of the day. She knew no one would be there and didn’t want criticism for her life style.

10. Be real, human and vulnerable. Jesus accepted her right away, asking her for a drink of water. It was a point of contact, a human need both shared. He opened Himself up to her, asking for a favor, before expecting her to open herself up and ask Him for anything.

11. Put people before prejudice and public opinion. Jesus cared more about her as a person than He cared about prejudice and social customs. It was very improper for a Jew to talk to a Samaritan, for a man to initiate conversation with a woman, and especially for a rabbi to reach out to an immoral woman. Drinking from her vessel would make Him ceremonially ‘unclean.’

12. Go to those in need. Jesus reached out to her because of her need. He spent most of His time with ‘sinners.’ I was as needy as her, but I didn’t realize it! Her obvious need made her more open to accept His gift. She knew her sin and emptiness, there was nothing to cover it. She had nothing to lose but her pain! It took me 2 1/2 years to take a stand for Jesus, she did it the same day!

13. We must call sin ‘sin.’ While it wasn’t easy for me to admit my need, the woman at the well tried to cover over hers, too. I guess that’s natural with everyone. When Jesus brought up her immoral lifestyle she tried to change the subject, but Jesus’ point was made. He didn’t keep focusing on her sin, but He didn’t ignore it, either.

14. Avoid arguments about ‘religions.’ When she wanted to talk about which religion was right Jesus steered the conversation back to the need for a personal relationship with Him. NO religion can provide that! Religion is doing something to connect with God. That can’t be done (Eph. 2:8-9).

15. Challenge the person to make a personal commitment to Jesus. I wasn’t ready, but the woman was. When He told her HE was the Messiah she believed and accepted Him as her Savior. She gave her heart to Jesus then and there.

16. Remember that it is every believer’s responsibility to witness. Immediately the woman went to her village and challenged the people there to come meet the Messiah for themselves. They did, and the result was the greatest response Jesus ever had to His ministry on earth. She didn’t argue with them, she just told them what she had discovered. A witness isn’t someone who argues God’s case, that’s a lawyer. We are called to be witnesses. A witness simply tells what he knows, what he has experienced. We are to be salt and light (Matthew 5). God does the rest.

17. Some sow while others reap. While many responded to Jesus during his short stay at that time, it wasn’t until years later when Philip came that the full harvest came (Acts 8). Philip reaped what the woman and those who also accepted Jesus years earlier had been sowing.

Did you know that only about 5% of those who are Christians have ever introduced anyone else to Jesus? There’s enough Bread of Life to supply the whole world, but there aren’t enough volunteers to distribute it. What about you? You may not feel you can do a good job, but no matter how badly you feel you witness, it’s still thousands of times better than not witnessing at all! As the slogan today says, “Just do it!”

(Wednesday, June 24, 2009)  Well, its finished. We just buried Him. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing a body after its been crucified. It hardly looks human anymore! This time is the worst of all. A million emotions flooded my heart: grief, sorrow, but especially guilt and remorse. It’s funny how you see things differently AFTER an event than before. Too often fear rules and dominates. Then afterwards one is left with only regrets. I’ve had more than my share, but none worse than my fear of letting others know I was a follower of Jesus. I lived with that mistake, but maybe my story can help you not do the same thing. I hope so, for regret is a miserable emotion to live with.

MY NAME IS NICODEMUS. I was a top religious ruler in Israel. I held a high, powerful position. I was very rich and influential. I was extremely well educated and one of the top scholars of my day. You could say I had it all -- outwardly that is. I guess I had too much, because I didn’t want to jeopardize it for what REALLY mattered.

My story starts in the summer of AD 30. It was the time of the Passover. Jesus was in Jerusalem with some of His followers and had just cleansed the temple (John 2:13-22). I could understood why He did it, but I knew it wouldn’t be a popular move! In one way I wanted to learn more about Him, for what I had heard and seen appealed to the emptiness inside me. But I didn’t want to risk losing my hard-won position and prestige. I never liked to be criticized. So I came to Jesus as night (John 2:23 - 3:21).

It was more convenient then for we were both busy during the day, but I must admit that the privacy was important to me, too. What I heard that night changed my life forever! It’s like Jesus knew the inner emptiness and longing of my heart, like He understood it better than I did. He showed me the solution wasn’t in external religious observance, but in an inner new birth. I needed a personal relationship with Him, not the admiration of my peers, to meet my need. My pride and fear kept me spiritually blinded to what he was saying. In the weeks and months that followed, however, I couldn’t forget them. As I investigated more and more into His claims I came to believe that He was God, the Messiah come to earth. I put my faith in Him and considered myself a supporter and follower of His, but I never let anyone know. I was afraid.

Some years ago Premier Khrushchev was speaking before the Supreme Soviet and was severely critical of the late Premier Stalin. While he was speaking someone from the audience sent up a note: "What were you doing when Stalin committed all these atrocities?" Khrushchev shouted, "Who sent up that note?" Not a person stirred. "I'll give him one minute to stand up!" The seconds ticked off. Still no one moved. “All right, I'll tell you what I was doing. I was doing exactly what the writer of this note was doing--exactly nothing! I was afraid to be counted!"

THAT WAS ME. I remember one time, about 2 years after I spoke with Jesus, when the Sanhedrin was talking about Jesus and how to get rid of Him. It was obvious they were jealous of Him and His popularity with some of the people. I couldn’t stand it any longer so spoke up, but what I said was very weak. “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” (John 7:51). It was better than silence, but not much better. My fear controlled me. You know, usually the fear itself is worse than the thing we fear! So it was with me. I can see how Satan was using my fear to keep me silent. His lie was that I can take my stand soon, but not quite yet.

There is an ancient story about three demons who were arguing over the best way to destroy the Christian mission in the world. The first demon says, "Let's tell all the Christians there is no heaven. Take away the reward incentive and the mission will collapse." The second demon says, "Let's tell all the Christians there is no hell. Take away the fear of punishment and the mission will collapse." The third demon says, "There is one better way. Let's tell all the Christians that there is no hurry" and all three immediately say, "That's it! All we have to do is tell them there's no hurry and the whole Christian enterprise will collapse."

I CONTINUED TO PUT OFF taking a public stand for Him. Five months later it was too late. "One of these days" is none of these days. I missed my opportunity. Caiaphas had his was. Judas played right into their hands. Jesus was dead. I never had taken a public stand for him. Funny, I should have then felt safe from disclosure. I knew I wasn’t going to be exposed, for no one knew of my faith but me! Instead of feeling safe I just felt miserable. Fear does that to a person.

When I heard that Joseph of Arimathea was asking Pilate for Jesus’ body I went right to him. I didn’t know he was a follower? Who else among our number were? None of us spoke out. What if I would have spoken out, might several others have then found the courage to follow my lead? I’ll never know. We all took the easy way.

Anyway, I made it known publicly where I stood by helping bury Him (John 19:39). That night I couldn’t help remembering the earlier night 2 1/2 years ago, when I listened to His words. If only I’d have chosen differently. If only I’d have taken a stand for Him like He took for me! Instead I had the shame, guilt and regret of letting my fear rule my decisions.

BUT GOD WAS GRACIOUS. He forgave me and used me anyway. Sure, I ended up losing all I had among the Jews, as I feared would happen. You know, though, when it did happen it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be! I had something so much more important to me now, something that REALLY met my inner needs. I had Jesus.

I went ahead and was baptized by Peter and John. I had to leave Jerusalem and eventually was killed for my faith. It was all worth it, though! Jesus was always with me helping me through it all. He will help you, too, if you stand up for Him. Don’t be like me and live with regrets. Don’t wait until it is too late, like I did! Don’t put Jesus off. He won’t let you down!

I recall a story about a man who had to cross a wide river on the ice. He was afraid it might be too thin, so he began to crawl on his hand and knees in great terror. He thought he might fall through at any moment. Just as he neared the opposite shore, all exhausted, another man glided past him nonchalantly sitting on a sled loaded with pig iron. How like some Christians! Headed for Heaven, they tremble at every step lest the divine promises break under their feet. They need only to look at the context of Isaiah 12:2 to realize that God is their salvation and the Lord is their strength and song. By resting completely upon Him and taking His promises at face value, we can drive out the paralyzing fear that hinders our effectiveness in serving Christ. The biblical antidote always works: "I will trust, and not be afraid."