Sonsofthesea.org

"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Category: Courage (Page 1 of 6)

The Courage To Walk Away.

May 23, 2026 / / 0 Comments

MaryEllen Montville

“How much better it is to get skillful and godly Wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” –Proverbs 16:16

Wisdom will instruct us when to walk away, and from whom—if we avail ourselves of her wise counsel; we will flee, leaving behind us everything that is not God’s best. Even those “good things” we in fact know were God-given in seasons past. Those people, places, and abilities that served us well then. Still, they’re not God’s best for us now. They’re familiar, sure. Comfortable, you bet.

They’ve become so comfortable, in fact, that you’ve settled into them—moved in, lock, stock, and barrel, if you will, to a thing God intended to be temporary, a time of refreshing only. Or maybe it was intended as a time and place meant to build you up; that person or relationship meant only to bless you, then move on. The place you’re in now was hand-picked by God to settle you in for a season while you healed from the cutting away of those things He needed to remove from you. “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” –2 Timothy 2:21-22

So here’s the question: are you willing to walk away from whatever God is asking of you?

Will you freely let go of everything—anything, God is putting His finger on in this hour, or will you white-knuckle your way through, grabbing onto the familiar like a drowning man to a life -ring?  

Have you fallen for the enemy’s lie, beloved?

His deceptive whispers telling you what God has promised you —that seemingly impossible vision He’s given you, that dream or desire He’s placed in your heart and continues to confirm time and again, no matter how many fleece you keep throwing out—really isn’t possible, so how can it possibly be His right-now will for you?

Has what God promised you become just too impossible for you to hope for?

Did you fall for the lie of the enemy with his annihilative whispers, those same lies meant to challenge and thwart God’s Word, His promises? As if! Satan has been recycling his same trickery since his days in the Garden. “If you let go of what’s right in front of you now, you’ll surely risk going home empty-handed?

Hear me, friends: Those things, whatever they be: the best of people, that home, the city or State, that relationship, friendship or partnership may indeed have been God’s will for you in seasons past, but are no longer His Perfect will for you now. Recall Solomon’s sage words: “There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” –Ecclesiastes 3:1;5

Don’t mistake your right now for your forever, friends.

Seek God for His plan and purpose for your life, for how He would best use the gifts He has bestowed upon you for His glory—according to His will and plan for your life. “Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” –Romans 12:2

How do you do that?

You do it by surrendering and by remembering this crucial Truth: You are no longer your own—you’ve been bought at an exceedingly high price.

If you belong to Jesus, then Christ now has the only say that matters in your life.

You choosing to white-knuckle it in an attempt to hang on to your will over Jesus’ Perfect will for you is to kick against God’s Perfect plan and Divine purpose. That’s not only foolish but selfish. Not everything that glitters is gold, beloved of God; fool’s gold still exists, and fools continue to mistake it for the real thing by choosing their own will over God’s.

Being the loving Father God is, wanting only to give His absolute best to His children, is it any wonder that Abba forewarned us to be on the lookout for said fool’s gold? “There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, But its end is the way of death.” –Proverbs 14:12

Friends, apart from my own, I don’t know whose heart God is knocking on today.

Who needed this Word of confirmation: it’s time to let go, finally; whose fear God wants to wash away—patient Father that He is, by Him using this one more reminder that: “the season is over. The time has passed. You’ve gleaned from it all I have willed. “It’s now time to move on, my child.”

I’m praying God gives you the courage and wisdom you need today to walk away when you hear Him say, “Go.”

Friend, if you don’t yet know this Loving, Kind, Patient, All-Knowing, Sovereign Jesus who, out of a love too big to wrap our heads around, gave His life for us, won’t you invite Him into your life today? “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” –Acts 4:12

This same Jesus wants nothing more than to love you and show you what He, the One who created you and knows you better than you know yourself, has for you—right now. “Cry out to me and I will answer you. I will reveal to you great things, guarded secrets that you never could have known.” –Jeremiah 33:3

Yesterday is done.

Tomorrow isn’t promised to us.

Jesus wants to do a new thing in you—a “right-now” renewing in your heart and life. Washing away completely all that was so that He’ll lead you into all that is and can be—if you’ll let Him. Hear Jesus’ heart and intentions toward you. Friend: “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11

I Have Decided.

April 25, 2026 /

Maria Braga

Have you ever sung the following song? We sing it weekly at Highland City Church; it is sung not only as an anthem but also as a declaration, reminding us that our lives here on earth are very short, while eternity is forever. John 10:28-30 reminds us of this Truth. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. My Father and I are one.”

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back!

Though none go with me, still I will follow,

Though none go with me, still I will follow,

Though none go with me, still I will follow,

I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back!

The Cross before me, the world behind me,

The Cross before me, the world behind me,

The Cross before me, the world behind me,

I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back!

“I have decided to follow Jesus.” –The formation of the martyr’s words into a hymn has been attributed to the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh. An alternative tradition attributes the hymn to Pastor Simon K. Marak of Jorhat, Assam. Timeless Truths Free Online Library. Retrieved 2011-10-09.

The true and powerful story behind this song is a sad, deeply moving one that convicts us, makes us look into our own souls, and ask: “Where is my faith?”

This hymn was inspired by and lived out in the life of Nokseng, a Garo tribesman from Meghalaya, India, in the nineteenth century. Nokseng and his family were killed after converting to Christianity when he refused his village chief’s demand to deny Jesus.

Such an honorable story of true love and a dedicated, sold-out life to Christ!

When we “decide” to follow Jesus truly and genuinely, exchange our old, sinful life for His Agape Love, our lives are transformed in such a powerful way that no one can persuade us to turn back.

Uncovering the power of love in this well-known song brings tears to my eyes. Each time I listen to this song, it reminds me of my ongoing need to build my house/faith on the Rock, Jesus. Jesus said that to build our lives on him is to build our lives on the Rock. Because Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the Rock. He is the only foundation of a well-built faith. Luke 6:47-49. “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the Rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, it immediately fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

The power of establishing our lives on “the Rock,” Jesus, is crucial to our temporal journey; we must decide to follow Jesus, and not turn back to our old way of life.

The Bible speaks of two builders in Luke’s Gospel: the wise and the foolish.

  1. The Rock represents Jesus’ teachings and a life built on obeying His Words and trusting in Him, leading a person to a strong, unshakable life in Christ, even in the face of trials and tribulations. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says: “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green”. Jeremiah beautifully describes this trust and obedience as like a tree planted by the water. He talks of a specific stream, representing spiritual stability and resilience; a person who thrives without living in fear and sees the fruit of their faith even though they may be experiencing a dry desert season.

We must keep this promise before us!

  • The sand represents a life built without a foundation, a shallow life. This type of person hears Jesus’ Words but ignores them and puts no value on them. This type of building collapses when hardships or temptations arise.

This Scripture is a metaphor for how we choose to build our lives.

Our lives are built either on something solid, which is faith, trust, and obedience to Jesus Christ, or something unstable, the things of this world, going our own way, and neglecting God’s Word. Through this Scripture, we see that a house built on the sand will soon sink. Building on sand is building shallowly, on the surface, with no substance or foundation to hold it up. One foot in the world and another hoping to go to heaven.

Individuals who attempt to build their faith on the sand have no security, no deliverance, no healing, and no promise to hold on to. The first windstorm to come through their lives will sweep through it. They are a building that is shaky, doubtful, and uncertain about the future.

Here are some questions for each of us to answer:

1-How am I building my spiritual life as a follower of Jesus?

 2-What am I building my spiritual life upon?

3-When no one comes with me, will I still follow my Jesus?

4-If I am not following Jesus, why not?

I pray our answers are full of assurance and in line with God’s Word.

The Cross must forever be before those who believe.

We must produce the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we are not bearing fruit, we need to check for cracks in our foundation.

Nokseng was so convinced of his faith that facing death didn’t move him.

He was so assured of his destiny, so strong in his belief, he refused to deny Jesus right up to the end, regardless of the horrific cost before him in the way of anguish and agony as he watched his entire family be killed, one by one.

What an example of faith this individual left for us.

His 19th-century life story of martyrdom in Northeast India is still very much alive today, inspiring us to live with spiritual vitality, fervency, and a sold-out love for Jesus.

Father, in the Mighty and powerful name of your Son Jesus Christ, I lift to you every person reading these words. I pray blessings over them. I pray they are encouraged. I pray it strengthens their faith or brings them to saving faith, Jesus. If anyone reading these words does not know you as Lord and Savior, my prayer is that they surrender their life to you and begin their walk of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, eternally, never to turn back. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Holy Spirit Boldness.

April 11, 2026 /

Wesley Mendes

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.” –Acts 4:13-22

As you read this scripture, you might just think, “Wow, these guys were really courageous and so bold to go out in front of the Sanhedrin, who hated them and opposed Jesus,” which is true. That’s what really stood out to me, too. The disciples’ boldness and courage led me to think about some things I’d like to share with you.

Acts 4 begins by saying the Sanhedrin saw the disciples’ courage and noted that these men had been with Jesus. Notice, that’s where their courage came from; where their boldness came from, too, from Jesus.

These men, bold in that moment, were once seen cowering in an upper room, fearful that what had happened to Jesus would also happen to them. But then, all of a sudden, scripture says, the Holy Spirit came over them. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” —Acts 2:1-4

God’s Holy Spirit empowered them with such boldness that they no longer cared what happened to them. That is why they were so bold when they stood before the Sanhedrin. Are you bold? Will you stand and face those who oppose Jesus?

Then, the same Peter who had denied Jesus three times, the one who had been named the rock among his brothers, who had said he’d die for Jesus, and who had walked alongside him, was filled with boldness by the Holy Spirit’s power and began telling others about Jesus. “Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.” –Acts 2:14-16.

There are going to be threats.

There will be risky situations in your life.

You might be warned of the consequences and repercussions you’ll face if you keep on about Jesus. “The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” –Acts 4:1-2

Family or friends may already be asking you to stop with all this Jesus talk. That happened to the disciples, too. But it didn’t stop them. “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” –Acts 4:18

Like these brothers, like Peter, you have to be bold and lean on God, regardless of what people say; boldness says, “I hear you, but I obey God.”

“But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” –Acts 4”19-20

Be bold, be faithful, but not in your strength, which will never work. Be bold in the power that is from God’s Holy Spirit. People need to hear about Jesus.

Will you use what God has put in your hand to tell others about Jesus?

“ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” –Acts 4:29-31

You can have the same power of Jesus’ Holy Spirit in you as the disciples did, but not on your own; you must belong to Jesus. Do you want to? Here’s how you can: Surrender your heart to Jesus. He’ll give you the grace to do it if you really want to. I encourage you to be bold, ask Jesus to save you. “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10

Go!

October 4, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18-20

One of my favorite books is J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic, The Hobbit, that famous prequel to The Lord of the Rings. My dad introduced it to me when I was a freshman in high school. It was such a fantastic story. The fact that I had an in-school suspension that day, though certainly not my finest hour, did allow me to finish half of the book. That day, I came across a quote from Gandalf. He tells Bilbo Baggins, “The world isn’t in your books or maps, it’s out there.”

As a young man, reading that quote resonated with me because I had fears and doubts that held me back from pursuing specific dreams. I would do all this research and planning, but the end result was that nothing ever came from it. I was too afraid to go forward.

My friends, if you are in Christ Jesus, then, like me, you no longer have to let fear stop you from moving forward in what God is calling you to do, in fulfilling the dreams He has given you. God told Joshua three times to be strong and courageous as he led the nation of Israel into the promised land. “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses, My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:6-7

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”–Joshua 1:9

If God says it once, it’s essential. If He says it more than once, it’s crucial; God wants to ensure that you truly get it. The question becomes, like Joshua, are you going to take God at His Word and obey what He’s telling you to do?

Concerning obedience, Jesus shares a parable of two sons with the chief priests and elders of the temple: “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” –Matthew 21:28-30

Have you ever been at the point where God asked you to move in faith and you felt afraid or just didn’t want to do it?

Maybe it was something as simple as joining a specific ministry in church or even talking with your neighbor about Jesus. Perhaps you just felt afraid that you wouldn’t do it right. I have too. Yet it’s in those moments when the Holy Spirit reminds me of God’s Word, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.” –2 Timothy 1:7

The Holy Spirit will give you the peace and power to declare the Truth in love to those you may feel fearful to share God’s Word with. And He’ll also give you the strength to move when everything in you is saying “don’t go,” even though you know going is the right thing to do.

On the daily, I have to remind not just myself but my sons that life is not lived in front of a computer screen or on a phone. But that it ought to be spent in prayer, worship, and studying the Word of God, and in fellowship with our family and other believers. I am accountable for raising the next generation of Godly men. If I don’t do it, someone else will. They’ll step in and fill the void I’m neglecting by pouring false, worldly ideals into my sons. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” –Ephesians 6:4

Life is meant to be lived and experienced. Whether in joy or sadness, peace or doubt, Jesus said that He is with us always. The apostle Paul tells the Philippian church, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching toward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”- Philippines 3:13-14

We have been commanded to “Go”.

There is so much more to our walk with Jesus than simply reading His word. We must apply it, living it out in every part of our lives. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in the mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” –James 1:22-24

We are to put God’s teachings into action. Not live in fear or sit around on our hands and wait for Jesus’ return. There is work that needs to be done, lives to be spoken into, and prayers that need to be prayed.

Jesus’ final Words in Matthew’s Gospel are a call to arms; they are Jesus telling His disciples to Go!

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”

Brothers and sisters in Christ, if you have not shared your faith in Jesus with someone because fear has been holding you back, perhaps it is time for you to take to heart the same Words Jesus spoke to encourage Joshua. “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

 People are living in this dark world who need to know who the Light of the world is. Jesus declared to the people, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” –John 8:12

Are you that person, friend? Are you afraid to turn to Jesus? Is fear of what you think you might have to give up to have Jesus in your life keeping you away from Him? If so, this is your sign to step out in faith instead of living in fear and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today. “He appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” –Hebrews 4:7.

Amen.

Canceling Unbelief.

September 20, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nail, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” –John 20:24-25

After Jesus’ resurrection, He spent time with His disciples. He reminded them that all things spoken of Him by the Prophets and about His death had to be fulfilled. “Then He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” –Luke 24:44.

All of Jesus’s disciples, except one, Thomas, believed Jesus had been resurrected. Thomas was the only disciple who seemed to struggle to believe someone could come back from death.

Jesus’ disciples had witnessed an unthinkable event: Jesus, their Messiah, their friend, had been betrayed and arrested. Some ran off into the darkness, while others stayed. The Bible doesn’t name names; we know only this: “they all forsook Him and fled.” Fear has a way of making us run, forgetting we have faith on our side. Scripture makes indirect mention of one disciple who actually stood with Jesus and witnessed Him be crucified, John, the Apostle. W“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” –John 19:26-27.

We know from other Gospel accounts that John referred to himself as “the disciple whom he loved (Jn. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2).

During their last meal with His disciples, Jesus quoted the prophet Zechariah, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: “I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” –Matthew 26:31

Fear was the driving force that separated them. When we go through hardships, we can forget “faith first” and allow doubt to take first place.

Thomas is a realist. He sees things for what they are, but also has faith in Jesus. It’s not easy for someone like Thomas to believe Jesus came back after knowing Jesus had been crucified. His realistic mind needed to catch up with his faith. He was dealing with double-mindedness, and it was taking a toll on him. In the book of James, the author writes, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.” –James 1:6-8

I can relate to Thomas, though. I’ve been there.

In my humanity, when certain circumstances came up, I admit, I doubted. I have had those double-minded moments thinking, “How can I make this situation work,” when the fact of the matter is, I needed to trust God, let go, and hand it over to Him. Instead, I acted as though God would not be able to help me. I relied too much on what I was thinking and left little room for God to move. King Solomon writes, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

When something unexpected happens in our faith walk, it can cause us to question or doubt. To ask ourselves, “Does God really love me?” or “What if I do step out in faith and I fail. Will God forgive me for that?” The answer to both, by the way, is a big fat yes!

We can be our own worst enemies. We need to be reminded that the Spirit of God that dwells in us is greater than our circumstances. “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” –1 John 4:4.

God tells the prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think of you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.” –Jeremiah 29:11 God thinks this about you. His plan for those who believe in Him is to have life in abundance. Not to stay living in fear or doubt. We’re to have a mindset of victory, believing our battles are truly overcome in Christ Jesus. Remember what Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33.

Will God ever leave us in this place of doubt or fear? Never!

Let’s read what happened next, after some of Jesus’ disciples first experienced witnessing Him alive, again: “And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said, “Peace to you!” –John 20:26

Every issue you were facing, every doubt, was silenced because Jesus entered the room. “Then He says to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and My God!” –John 20:27-28.

Jesus shows up in ways no one expected.

Isn’t that the nature of God, though? To show up suddenly? When you least expect it, He suddenly appears and says, “Peace to you.”

Jesus came to put Thomas’ doubt to an end.

He shows Thomas the nail prints in His hands and the wound in His side from the spear. It really is Jesus!

Every doubt melts away. Peace takes its place when Jesus shows Thomas His wounds. The only words Thomas can say are, “My Lord and My God!”

It’s like nothing could come between them at this moment. Thomas’s faith has been rekindled and galvanized. He now knows who Jesus truly is; He is God, in the flesh, risen and alive. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” –John 1:1-2.

Our circumstances, fears, and doubts do not get to dictate their own outcomes. The enemy will always think he has the final say. But didn’t Jesus say that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” –Matthew 28:18.

So, if we abide in Jesus, doesn’t that mean that through Jesus’ power and position, we have authority over whatever situations fear and doubt are trying to make themselves lord over?

Shouldn’t the love of God at work in us give us the boldness to face those giants head-on? “Love has been perfected among us in this; that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.” –1 John 4:17

God’s love is so powerful.

Brother, know that you are not alone when you face moments of doubt. God will never leave you alone in that spot, ever! Jesus said, “I will never leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” –John 14:18. Child of God, rest assured that no matter the circumstance, Jesus is for you.

The greatest gift God ever gave us is His Son, Jesus.

All who repent of their sins, confess Jesus as Lord, are saved. “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”–Romans 10:9-10.

I invite you today to call on Jesus and ask for His forgiveness of your sins. “For the scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” –Romans 10:11

Call on Jesus in your doubt. He will always answer you.

Amen.

Undeniable Faith In Uncertainty.

September 6, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” –John 14:5-6

I have asked this same question of Jesus a few times myself in my walk with Him, “Alright Lord, I have done what You’ve asked of me. I don’t know where we’re going next, but I trust You.”

Does this sound familiar to anyone? You know you heard God correctly and that you did what He asked of you; now for the “what’s next” part.

The moments of uncertainty God allows to help us grow in our faith and reliance on Him.

Just as muscles in the body need daily exercise and resistance for them to get stronger, our faith needs to meet resistance to grow as well. “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –2 Peter 1:5-8.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” –Hebrews 11:6.

We read of the disciples’ trust in Jesus throughout scripture. How they have left their homes, families, and places of employment when He called them to follow Him; everything they found safe and familiar was left behind to follow Him for three plus years.

God began directing their paths, and they all followed by faith, not knowing what tomorrow would bring.

Are you willing to do the same?

To “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not in your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

I love reading the New Testament scriptures and learning how Jesus called some of the disciples to follow Him.

Each of them had that one moment, that very personal, unique encounter with Jesus that changed their lives forever. And their encounter with Jesus continues to impact and change lives, still.

Jesus started His His ministry—to spread the Gospel and build His Church, with four fishermen from Galilee, Peter, Andrew, James, and James’s brother, John. When Jesus saw them, He said of them each, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19

And you know what they did?

They left everything behind and followed Jesus.

Fishing was how they all made a living; yet when Jesus asked them to follow Him, they immediately dropped everything they knew and followed Him. Scripture doesn’t say they asked Jesus where they were going. These men had no agenda. By faith, they dropped their nets when He called them, quit what they knew, and went with Jesus. “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” –Matthew 4:20

And then there’s Matthew.

How Jesus called Matthew is truly amazing to me. It shows me that no matter what people think of you, God will always have the final say.

Matthew was a tax collector for Rome before He encountered Jesus. During Jesus’ day, if you were a Jew and a tax collector, you were hated by your own people. Considered a sellout to their Roman oppressors. They were also hated because many tax collectors would overcharge the people and keep some of that money for themselves, lining their own pockets with money that had been hard earned by their Jewish brothers. But Jesus saw something more than what others saw in Matthew’s heart. “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.” –Matthew 9:9

 Jesus knew Matthew’s occupation, sure, but He saw his heart—something valuable in him.

Your career will never outweigh the purpose God has for you.

Your job doesn’t define you.

Your true identity is revealed to you by Jesus once you have a genuine encounter with Him. Then, He will call you saying, “Follow Me, ” wherever He may lead you.

When I read how Jesus called Nathanael, I chuckled.

Nathaneal meets Jesus and is blown away by what Jesus says to him. They have never met, yet somehow Jesus knows all about Nathanael. “Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, and Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” –John 1:47

Jesus sees Nathaneal and knows how much he loves God.

There is no lie or deceit in him. That sounds to me like Nathanael keeps the Word of God close to his heart and has spent his life putting it into practice. Now, Nathanael gets to speak and serve Jesus, the very Word made flesh. “Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” –John 1:48

When you least expect Him to, God sees you.

 When you are at your happiest or at your lowest, God is there.

Jesus is present during times of uncertainty and He is also present when you’re feeling confident.

Scripture does not say why Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree. It simply states that God saw him there. How truly comforting this is for you and me. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:38-39

Nathanael knew God. Had been searching for Him. Yearning to see Him.  Nathanael didn’t need to see Jesus do miracles or teach the multitudes. What Jesus spoke to him was enough for him. So, when Jesus asked Nathanael to follow, Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” –John 1:50

I wonder if Jesus smiled when Nathanael answered Him? Why? Because in that one moment,  by Jesus just speaking to him, Nathanael believed Jesus was the Son of God. May we, the believers in Christ Jesus,  witness the “greater things” Jesus talked about with Nathanael.

Who is Jesus to you?

Jesus asked this same question of His disciples, and Simon Peter responded with this:

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” –Matthew 16:15-16

What a powerful declaration of faith.

Jesus is the Christ!

He is Lord!

Every Blood-bought believer will say, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.” Yes, Jesus is your Savior, and yes, your sins have been washed away by Jesus’ Blood shed for you. And yes, Jesus gave His life for you so that you can live eternal life with the Father.

But is He your Lord and master? Or is He just a man who has good moral teachings? Is He one way to get to heaven? Or is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Does His Holy Spirit live in your heart, guiding you, calling you, as He did His disciples? Is Jesus Lord of your family? Your finances, job, and your decisions?

Do you obey His Word, or is your guide other people’s opinions?

Are you trying to please man or God? Does God have your full attention?

The apostle Paul writes to the church in Galatia, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I still please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” –Galatians 1:10

We don’t have all the answers. But because we have God’s Word, we do know this: All Jesus ever asked of His disciples was to “follow and obey Him.”

It’s no different for us; just follow Jesus, even if you don’t understand where He’s leading you yet, just be obedient and follow Him. It will all be made clear. As His follower, I can promise you that. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” –Galatians 6:9.

My prayer to my brothers and sisters is that, whatever the circumstances, God has the final say in your life. Be rooted in your faith and know that whenever storms come, Jesus has you. Amen. “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will like him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” –Matthew 7:24-25

And for you, friend: Such undeniable faith can be yours. How? It starts with Jesus. He made it so simple for us to have a genuine relationship with Him that even a child can do it. Invite Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior. He promises He will come to anyone who sincerely invites Him into their life—no matter their past. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” –John 5:24

Nikoa: Continously…

July 19, 2025 /

MaryEllen Montville

“For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].” –1 John 5:4.

What’s with the title of this teaching, MaryEllen? What is Nikoa, and what does it mean? Glad you asked. Nikoa is a present-tense Greek Word that John was led to use in today’s verse. It denotes continuous, ongoing action rather than a one-off event. Now, if you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll have figured out that I’m no English major. I’m sure some of you may have even cringed from time to time while reading some of my blatant linguistic blunders; thank you for your grace and for continuing to follow us despite my glaring grammatical deficiencies.

So, since I have not yet mastered basic English, what’s with my stab at Greek all about?

That’s a question only the Holy Spirit can answer, as it is He who caused today’s Scripture to jump off the page and Him who caused me to ask: “How does this Scripture apply to believers today, Lord. Help me understand better so that I might share your heart.”  

Then, in true Holy Spirit fashion, He used what I do know—to do research—to then lead me to what I did not know: tense usage in the Greek language; hence, Nikoa; the epitome of 1 Corinthians 1:27 on unabashed display, “God uses the foolish things to confound the wise.”

But it wasn’t for a lesson in Greek tense usage that the Holy Spirit chose today’s verse; no, He chose it to encourage you specifically with its life-giving promise and real-time Truth—a solid foundation on which you personally can stand, unmovable. Holy Spirit picked it because He knew that with all the uncertainty swirling around you like some ominous, doom-soaked, dark cloud, you need (present-tense) to be re-minded that God is continually empowering you to overcome this world; re-minding you that you’re in, not of it. “The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” –John 15:19.

All that you might overcome your enemy, by taking your God-given authority over every dark, demonic thing that is trying to distract, derail, and discourage you, via God’s Holy Spirit at work in you, right now. Equally, the Holy Spirit lets you know that He’ll do the same again tomorrow and the next day, Nikoa, continually. Jesus will empower you to overcome this world until He returns or takes you home. The rest of today’s verse assures you of this, child of God, listen: “and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God].”

You can and will be victorious, but not because you are a super-Christian. Not because you’re sinless or perfect or because you’ve gotten it all right; you never could. That’s why God sent Jesus into the world—and why Jesus came willingly. He alone is Perfect, and He alone is victorious over sin, death, and the grave. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Corinthians 15:57.

Your victory over whatever may be trying to overtake you, rob, distract, or cause you to give up—is assured, beloved—it is yours, now, Nokia, because of Jesus. Because Jesus has secured it for you—has promised it to you. And God cannot lie. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” –Numbers 23:19.

The same powerful Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave now lives within you if you are God’s child. “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” –Romans 8:11.

Satan knows if you truly belong to God, have confessed and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and Savior; he cannot rob you of your salvation. “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10.

Satan also knows that if he can get in your head and cause you to believe, somehow, that God’s Word isn’t True, that your receiving salvation couldn’t possibly be as straightforward as believing God—taking Him at His Word—that He is who He says He is and that He can and will do all that He has promised—then Satan has succeeded in the greatest heist known to mankind, to rob you of salvation; the eternal security and safety Jesus gave His very life to afford you. Jesus paid the ultimate price to ensure your victory over your enemy, beloved.

Your faith in Jesus is a personal, precious, and costly gift.

So don’t you dare give up. Don’t you dare say that you can’t walk this Christian Walk any longer. Don’t you dare be deceived by Satan—that liar and thief who is making one last massive attempt to break into your house, and mine—into the home of any believer he can, with only one thing in mind. To rob us.

You are never alone, never unprotected, beloved. God is always with you, whatever your circumstances. Whether you’re standing beneath swirling, doom-soaked clouds or under the brightest rays of mountain-top sunlight, you are assured victory in every circumstance in this life because of Jesus. Because He has overcome the world (completed action). “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –John 16:33.

That doesn’t mean you should leave your doors unlocked; this world is still under Satan’s influence, so be wise. Partner with God, regardless of the season you’re in, doing your part to protect this mind-blowing victory Jesus has afforded you. “But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.” –Matthew 24:43.

Your victory is assured because of Jesus, beloved. But your hope, your joy, the peace you have as a believer, those things Satan can and will rob you of—if you allow him. How? By leaving your house unguarded. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen.” –1 Peter 5:8-11.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:15

Even If.

April 26, 2025 /

MaryEllen Montville

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” –Daniel 3:16-18.

There is a hymn most Christians would instantly recognize; moreover, whose hearts would joyously and with complete abandon declare. I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow, no turning back, no turning back. Some say this familiar hymn was composed in 1959 by hymn editor William Jensen Reynolds using what is said to be the last words of a Christian convert of the mid-18th century as he and his family were being martyred for their faith. Other sources say these final words of the martyr, Nokseng, of the Garo tribe in Assam, India, a tribe looked upon as bloodthirsty savages, were turned into a hymn written by the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh.

Whoever you may credit, this most sincere declaration is indelibly etched on our hearts. No question, each devout word took flight from Nokseng’s lips. This man was so in love with Jesus, so thoroughly convinced that Jesus is who He claimed to be and will do all He claimed He would do, that not even death, his own, nor that of his two sons and beloved wife, would deter him from turning his back on Jesus.

When Nokseng said there’d be no turning back, he meant it.

I pray the same can be said of you and me, beloved.

Mirroring Nokseng’s heart and flintlike faith, the Apostle Paul echoed his own fixed determination never to turn away from Jesus approximately 15 centuries later: “Yet every advantage that I had gained I considered lost for Christ’s sake. Yes, and I look upon everything as loss compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For his sake I did in actual fact suffer the loss of everything, but I considered it useless rubbish compared with being able to win Christ. For now my place is in him, and I am not dependent upon any of the self-achieved righteousness of the Law. God has given me that genuine righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. How changed are my ambitions! Now I long to know Christ and the power shown by his resurrection: now I long to share his sufferings, even to die as he died, so that I may perhaps attain as he did, the resurrection from the dead” –Philippians 3:8.

If you have decided to follow Jesus, I pray the height and depth of their words and determined following burn as white-hot in your own heart, no turning back.

You may ask, “What do this song and the apostles’ words have to do with today’s Scripture verse?”

To which I’ll reply, “Everything.”

Much like the martyrs Nokseng and the Apostle Paul, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego each made a firm decision never to turn away from following Jesus. “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” –Daniel 3:16-17.

Long before the moment came when each would face the very real threat of dying for Jesus, each had long before determined in their heart that his life was no longer his own. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]” –Matthew 16:24 Amp.

How blessed are you, dear Christian, to follow the One, True God, Jesus, who does not ask of His disciples something He is unwilling to do. How blessed we are that our Jesus goes before us in all things pertaining to faith and commitment to God, and by modeling how it is done, Jesus, our Greatest example, was willing to lay down His life in obedience to the Father’s will. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” –John 10:18.

Resurrection Sunday is just an arm’s length behind us.

Yet, the same “ever-before-us” decision asked and answered by those who have given up their lives for Jesus remains. “Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you. For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation]” –Philippians 3:17-18

As we plainly witnessed here today, those who claimed they followed Jesus did, in fact, do just that—even unto death.

Beloved, recognizing our life is a living sacrifice, we too must decide to follow Jesus’s ultimate example of obedience and love for the Father, knowing with unwavering certitude that, no matter what happens, believing what awaited Jesus on the morning of the third day awaits us as well. “Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did” —Romans 6:6-11.

So, new friend, have you decided to follow Jesus? No turning back? I’m praying you will. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” –John 11:25-26.

His Peace In Rejection.

February 1, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” –Matthew 13:53-56.

We all want to feel valued and loved by our families and friends, not to mention our brothers and sisters in the church. So let me ask you, have you ever been rejected or laughed at for your belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Have your friends and loved ones ever looked at you in such a way that made you feel like you are an outsider looking in? Or have family and friends just stopped talking to you because your love for the Lord Jesus has superseded the love you have for them?

My dear brothers and sisters, if any of this is the case, you are in good company because Jesus also went through rejection when He was teaching and doing miracles in His hometown of Nazareth. His own people, even His own blood brothers, rejected Him. Can you believe that? Not only the townspeople but His own brothers!

They all, family, and townspeople, remembered Jesus as the son of a carpenter, a mere man. They could not see Him as He truly was, the Son of God, their Messiah. Their focus was on the Jesus they knew or had known. However, the Jesus who stood before them taught and preached with power and authority; He knew His true identity. He was from the Father, and nothing, or no one, would stop Him from doing what He was called to do. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” –John 12:32

Jesus reminds us that even within households and intimate relationships, division will arise because of Him.

There is always a cost to be paid, my dear friends, when following God’s ways. In Matthew 10, Jesus reminds us of this heavy truth: “I did not come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” –Matthew 10:34-36. Wow.

Think about the life you once lived, your BC life (Before Christ), and how friends and family viewed you.

Maybe you partied a lot with drinking and drugs, etc. Then, one day, your BC self-had an encounter with Jesus, and everything you knew totally changed. Your heart changed, and your mind was renewed. You became a new creation. The apostle Paul writes about this very thing to the church in Corinth, “Therefore, if any is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” –2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul also writes to the Romans, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” –Romans 12:2

My dear friends, some people in the world are uncomfortable with change. They expect people to stay the same, never changing or growing. This can even happen within the church if God calls you to do something specific, become a missionary, write a book, be called to preach, and teach God’s Word or lead a ministry. Some will look at you and say, “Wait, isn’t that… and wasn’t he/she just doing ____________, but now they’re teaching a Bible study? Who do they think they are!” To that, I say let them talk and for you remember what Jesus told Peter, “You follow Me.” –John 21:21. My dear friends, even if the rejection comes from those you serve alongside and love, remember you are first and always in the hands of Jesus—obedient to Him above all others.

Who’s to say that God’s not preparing you for the work of the ministry? Jesus says, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” –Luke 14:11.

Friends you have known for years will eventually see the transformation Jesus has made in you and question, “What happened to you?” Then one of two things will happen: They will either accept the change—the new you or reject you, maybe altogether. But a faithful friend will stick with you no matter what, and a really loyal friend will rejoice with you that God has chosen you to grow into the someone He destined you to be, to fulfill His call and purpose in your life. “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” –Proverbs 17:17.

Some friendships will remain rooted, but the sad reality for the believer in Jesus is that some friends will reject you.

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” –John 15:18-20. Just because you are rejected by men, hold tight to the fact that you are always seen and accepted by your All-Loving, Omnipotent, and Ever-Present God who saved and loves you. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come to that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” –John 10:10-11.

We may lose what is temporary, but we gain what is eternal in Christ Jesus.

If you are experiencing rejection right now, know that Jesus is with you. Rejection is a heartbreaking experience. Jesus, I believe, may have felt that heartbreak when the very ones He loved were offended by Him and His message. “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” –Matthew 13:57.

Sadly, we are not always accepted where we should feel the most comfortable.

I pray this teaching will encourage you to stay strong in your faith even when all others reject you. How? By clinging to the Truth. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” –1 John 4:4

Be renewed this day by receiving Jesus as Lord over your life. Be washed and cleansed by His precious Blood, which was shed for you. “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” –2 Corinthians 6:2. Let today be that day of salvation. The day you’re made new in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

But Because He Says So, Will you?

January 25, 2025 /

Elda Othello

My husband is a jack of all trades. He knows how to do many things. Paint, work on cars, fix a roof, and repair random stuff around the house. Even after all these years, the many things he knows how to do still surprise me. Believe me, I appreciate and love his many trades. That said, the saying goes, “jack of all trades and master of none”-unknown.

Now, you might be a master of a trade, a skill, or a profession. So was Peter (Simon). He was an expert fisherman who one day found himself amid the Master. In Luke chapter 5, we read: “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

As I read this passage, I couldn’t help but wonder if we are first letting Jesus in our boats.

You might be reading this and have never asked Jesus to come into your boat, your heart. As you read this today, I pray this will be the day!

The second thing that spoke to me so profoundly was when Jesus initially got into Simon’s boat. He asked Simon to “pull out a little from shore” –Luke 5:3. Naturally, that makes sense; there were a lot of people gathered, and Jesus needed to be able to project His voice so they’d hear what He was saying. But some questions hit my spirit as I read these scriptures, and they’re the same ones I want to ask you. “Are you still sitting in shallow waters?” And “Are you willing to push your boat away from the shore at Jesus’ command?”

As I continued to read these passages, I became excited when Jesus asked Peter to “put out into deep waters” –Luke 5:4.

Our walk with God is definitely a journey. And sometimes, because we’ve allowed Jesus into our boats and hearts, He will prompt us to do things and to go places that might initially seem unfamiliar to us, requiring us to do things differently.

These scriptures tell us that Jesus wanted Simon to let down his net. This made no sense to him because he had just been fishing and caught nothing!

Point three is that Simon recognized Jesus as His Master. He was willing to do what didn’t make sense because Jesus said do it! When you’re a professional and have been doing something one way for so long, it can be scary to do it differently. It might feel uncomfortable, especially if you are a master of a trade. That’s why I loved Simon’s response, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” –Luke 5:5.

What are you fishing for this year? What are you believing in God for? I believe in 2025, God might be prompting us to go deeper. To go where He prompts us to go.

What was the outcome of Peter putting down his net? It landed Simon many fish! “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” –Luke 5:6-11.

Are you fishing in shallow waters, or are you willing to follow the guidance of the Master and move into deep waters? Are you willing to surrender to the deep things of God and be submerged into the unknown, the unfamiliar waters of His Word?

God is calling us to go deeper this year.

In Ezekiel 47, verses 4 to 6, Ezekiel has a vision of waters flowing from the temple in which the waters get deeper and deeper. They go from ankle to knee and waist deep, and then we are fully submerged in water. That river symbolizes God’s presence. He is Water, He is Life, and He is the Living Word. He is calling us to go deeper into His presence. Into those deeper places in Him where we have no choice but to trust Him, He wants us to grow and mature. He wants us to go deep.

Are you willing to take Jesus at His Word? Peter was willing to walk away from his “trade” to follow Jesus even after he had caught many fish!

Will you be willing to forget everything you know, just like Simon Peter did, to become fishers of men?

If you haven’t accepted the Lord Jesus in your life, invite him today by saying this prayer: Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner, and I invite you into my heart, my boat, this day. I make you my Master over every area of my life. In Jesus Name. Amen. “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10.

« Older posts

© 2026 Sonsofthesea.org

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑