Articles
Walking With Courageous Obedience
You just pulled an exhaustive all-nighter on a Friday at a library, trying to work on a report that is due the next Monday. Sadly, it was to no avail because even with wracking your brain the whole night you still made no progress. By morning you think, “A cup of coffee might be just what I need!” As you’re about ready to leave, a stranger approaches you. He exclaims that he saw your tired face and asks if you’re okay. After you explain the issue he exclaims, “Ah, I see…I can help you if you want.” Reluctantly, you let the stranger help and not only does he solve your problem, but then he teaches you knowledge beyond your understanding. After he finishes speaking he says, “Do not be afraid, from now on you will work for the benefit of mankind.” Would you leave everything to follow and begin work for this man?
The disciples recorded in Luke chapter 5 didn’t know where their money or next meal would come from but they had the courageous faith to know that the Savior would provide their daily bread. We know that these men had courageous faith to follow Jesus and not a blind faith, because Luke 5:3 explains that Jesus had taught them. Jesus teaching His disciples is important because it helps us know how much Jesus loves us. He doesn’t just see us as servants or tools to be used for his bidding, He calls us His friends. Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:14-15 ESV). Jesus wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him so that we can walk with Him in a manner that will bring glory to God.
Our relationship with God both before and after baptism is a continual growth process. It takes a courageous faith to initially and continually follow Jesus. In Matthew 14:26-33, Jesus leaves the mountain where He was praying alone to meet with his disciples who were far from land on a boat. Jesus walks on the water to His disciples’ boat and reaches them by the early morning. As he approaches, they become terrified thinking He was a ghost. He responds, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter is the only disciple to answer Jesus and asks to be commanded to leave the boat as proof of who He is. In this account, it is easy to focus on the fact that Peter asks Jesus to prove His identity and then begins to sink because of doubt. Yet, it is important for us as disciples to also heed Peter’s example of courage. He was the only disciple to respond and be willing to turn to Jesus after being afraid.
Our baptism and subsequent walk with Jesus as God’s children requires three things:
1. For us to appreciate how much we mean to God.
2. To return His love with faithful obedience.
3. Being willing to be transformed by Him because we are always seeking Him.
God doesn’t ask us for perfection and He doesn’t want our faith to be blind. Before getting baptized, God’s children should understand that walking with Christ requires continual growth and responsibility. If you have yet to be baptized or make yourself right with Him, then what right now is keeping you from your righteous work?
