No Time for Boating (Weekly Devotional)

Here is a copy of my weekly devotional to The Connection in White House, TN - the local newspaper. Be blessed!

Pastor K

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As published in The Connection on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009

No Time for Boating
By Pastor Kris Freeman
In the middle of uncertainty, are you tempted to return to your boat?

Peter was a person like many of us. While devoted to Christ as his apostle, Peter was stubborn, brash, bold, and hard-headed. He was not afraid to argue and willing to fight for what he believed. In many ways, Peter was a guy you’d want in your corner – faithful, but must be kept in tight reign.

And where did Jesus find him? He was fishing, in a boat, working, frustrated at his catch. But this decision to follow Christ did not erase Peter’s personality. He worked to overcome his struggles the entire time Jesus was on earth.
It seems that each struggle involved Peter and his comfort zone – the boat. The boat here is metaphoric; what thing have you left behind that in your toughest moments you cling to or return?

After a night of empty fishing, Jesus asked Peter to recast his nets, and so many fish came aboard it was breaking them. Peter had to leave the boat when Jesus promised to make his disciples “fishers of men.” Peter stepped out of the boat when during the night, he saw Jesus walking on water. His faith was challenged when he saw the wind and waves and began to sink, only as Jesus saved him, asking “Peter, where is your faith? Why did you doubt?”

The greatest struggle of Peter’s life, however, sent him right back to the boat. As Jesus was captured, Peter cut off the ear of a guard and tried to fight for Jesus, only to be rebuked and watch the man healed. In the courtyard on three occasions, Peter was recognized as a follower of Christ and denied it. He even cursed one who asked him. When Jesus was crucified, imagine the shame as Peter returned to his boat and went out to fish.

“Simon Peter said to them, I am going fishing. They said to him, we are going with you also. They went out immediately and got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.” (John 21:3 NKJV)

The resurrected Christ appeared on the shore. They listened as he instructed them to cast their nets on the other side and find a huge catch. When John told Peter, it was Jesus, he jumped out and swam to the shore, where Christ asked him three times if he loved him – and opposite of his denial, Peter upheld his devotion.

In the Old Testament, Jonah found the convenience of a boat when running from God. Peter returned to the security of his boat following his mistake. The boat itself is not the evil; rather there is temptation to run from your calling when you hurt. Like Jonah and Peter, you will likely rock the boat and find no comfort in it.

Be strong in faith that in tough moments, Christ has never left you; never forsaken you. He will always be there and through the power of the Holy Spirit, goes with you every day.

Don’t sit in the boat, pouting away your sorrows, or return to your past to find comfort in what you left behind. The Savior is not asking you to paddle away your sin; be faithful, forgiven, rise above it and walk on water.

Pastor Kris Freeman is a church planter with General Baptist National Missions. Revolution Church, reaching White House and Cross Plains, will launch in September, 2010. For more information, visit www.myrevolutionchurch.com .