Quick Take – We all want to serve the Lord, but when push comes to shove and He gives us something to do, we become afraid.  What we want to do and what we actually do is not always the same.  In order for us to be used of God, He has to grow and change us which means we are going to be challenged.  Our comfort zone will be taken away and we will have to go out in faith.  It is one thing to talk about serving the Lord, but it is quite another to actually do it.  God wants to change your life and use you for His glory.  The thought of that will not scare you, but the reality of it will.  Take courage!

for they all saw Him and were terrified . But immediately He spoke with them and said* to them, "Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid."  Mark 6:50 (NASB)

And remember – Jesus wins,
Tim

     Digging Deeper – In Mark, we read about Jesus walking on the water and how it scared the disciples.  In many ways, we still do the same thing.  The work and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ is divine and miraculous.  His working is just as awesome today as it was in the first century. When the disciples saw Jesus operating in a divine way, it scared them to death.  They talked and talked about how they wanted to follow Him, but the reality of His power and might was too much to bear.
     We are no different.  God wants to work in our lives and use us in ways we have never imagined.  Sometimes, He wants to use us in ways we are opposed to.  We say we want His will in our life, but then we fight the smallest urging on His part.  We are afraid of what others may think or of failing.  We have so many fears that we fail to let Him be an awesome God in our life.
     For many, serving the Lord is just as farfetched as walking on water.  For some believers, they could sooner see themselves walking on water than witnessing to someone.  We are so used to operating in the flesh that we forget what God can do.  We see ourselves and our abilities as a limiting factor to God, but they are not.  He is not looking for people who are completely capable, He is looking for people who are completely willing.
     Pastors hear the word “no” so often from people who are afraid of really seeing Christ in their life.  Christians view Christ through themselves instead of seeing themselves through Christ.  They believe Jesus can do all things except if it requires them to be a part of the equation.  We are living by the flesh when we do this, not faith.
     Faith requires that we take courage.  We are going to venture out into something we cannot see.  Fear will try to drive us back, but we must learn comfort and not fear in seeing the person of Christ.  We have to know it is our Lord who loves us that is coming on the water.  He will not call us to do anything that will bring us real harm.  His call is for us to have courage and believe Him.  We have to have His courage if we are going to be willing vessels.
     Perhaps there is something you have been running from or avoiding.  In what way are you afraid to see Christ in your life?  Are you afraid?  Can you see Christ in your life or just in someone else’s?  Maybe it is time you take courage and allow God to do that thing through you which only He can do.  Take courage – be a vessel.
     Blessings, and thanks for digging deeper with me!