Since 2009
THE PRAYFIT DEVOTION
A Powerful Statement
"Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord." --Isaiah 2:5
Walking is a powerful statement. We've spent a few days this week on the subject, but there are a few biblical faces I wish I could see as they put one foot in front of the other. Try to imagine Abraham's anguished face as he walked with Isaac toward the altar; a wide-eyed Moses when his feet touched the Red Sea's floor; a groggy Lazarus coming out of the tomb; a soon-to-be-blind Saul heading to Damascus. The visionary Paul pacing in prison writing, "We walk by faith". Picture the crippled boy carrying his bed through town, or a once-blind Bartimaeus -- now turned follower -- not letting Jesus out of his sight. I'd love to have seen Simone the Cyrene heading to Jerusalem, or Simon the Cyrene leaving Jerusalem. The two mourning disciples shuffling along the road to Emmaus just before their eyes were opened, or Peter's look of wonder as he strolled across the water.
Oh, we could go on and on, right? Some of the greatest moments of all-time occurred during one of life's most basic yet powerful actions. Whether they were called, healed, leading, following or reminiscing, we get to imagine their faces of faith as they walked. But I don't think the best evidence of its power is found on the floor of the Red Sea. It's not on the island of Patmos or somewhere along the road to Damascus.
How does the Bible describe the miracle moment of the Word becoming flesh? He walked among us. Of all the ways God chose to relate to us, making footprints was one of them. And those precious feet wouldn't stop until they were nailed to a Roman cross. The hill of Calvary didn't require Paul's brilliant mind, Job's resilience, Mary's innocence, Luke's precision, Joseph's persistence or the positive encouragement of Barnabas. No, Calvary required the perfect, spotless, blameless, loving, grace-giving walk of the Savior.
Evidence of faith, of agreement, of courage, of vision, of passion and purpose, of love and amazing grace. Walking is a powerful statement.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: We know the specialness of a walk, don't we? The bride in her aisle. The soldier exiting the plane home. The surgeon walking out to family with good news. What walk are you about to make? What steps of faith will you take to get your soul where it needs to go? Make no mistake, your walk is powerful statement. Say something with it today.
Sister Powell Update: Hey everyone, Sister Powell received the prayers and thoughts from everyone. She's traveling from the jungle of Cambodia en route home. Thank you guys for blessing her and me with your words. Here is her reply to you all:
"Jimmy, I am honored by your kindness and your generous spirit toward Henry and me. I praise the Lord that Henry lived long enough to see the Godly man you have become. I thank the Lord we both saw the stable marriage you and Loretta have. And, I thank the Lord for my PrayFit partners. I just received this e-mail and devotion. I am humbled and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support.
You are like the steel girders under the bridge, holding me up. I cannot even express the encouragement you deliver to me through your words and responses. Encourage means to put courage in another. Truly, you have and continue to do that for me. I am both humbled and grateful."
DID YOU KNOW?
High blood sugar can sour your mood. In a recent study, researchers found that people who drink two and a half cans of soda daily are three times more likely to be depressed and anxious than those drinking less pop. What's more, the depressed have a heightened risk for Type II diabetes. The reverse also holds true: Diabetics are twice as likely as others to suffer depression.
The Set-Up Man
Read: Acts 9 In our week-long discussion of "closers," I would likely offend the countless number of baseball fans who read PrayFit each day (wink, wink) if I missed discussing one critical role -- the one known only as "the set-up man." You won't find his name on the wall in Cooperstown. No statues of him outside the stadium. See, he's virtually award-less, unnoticed, even forgettable. All that and still necessary to our topic.
Now, Paul would have been an excellent person to shine our light upon this week, agree? I had his name scribbled on my list. He was actually first. But then I thought about his set-up man. Do you know his name?
Paul (at the time still named Saul) had been blind three days. One question from the Lord on the road to Damascus had darkened his life. This most zealous of Christian killers was hell-bent on adding a few notches to his belt when Jesus scared hell right out of him. "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting." Lights out. Can't you see him in his room? Cold, confused, shivering, drooling, eyes caked shut. Doesn't exactly sound like the world's greatest evangelist. Enter Ananias.
If you've read today's chapter, you realize that Ananias knew of Saul's reputation and while begging God not to send him, God assured Ananias that He had plans for Saul. See, it was Ananias' job to give Paul the ball, to tap him on the shoulder, to summon the closer within. "Saul...the Lord Jesus...sent me." (Acts 9:17) Paul took the ball.
Who in your life needs you to be Ananias? It could be the kid nobody talks to in class. The woman nobody sits near in church. The not-so-fit guy on the bike. Someone needs Ananias to put a hand on a shoulder. Somebody needs help in realizing the closer within. Ananias didn't know what Paul would do for the cause of Christ, God did. We don't know what God has in store for those around us, but sharing Christ with them is our job. The best part is, every closer needs a set-up man, and every closer can be one.
--Jimmy Peña
For Discussion: What a tremendous honor to be humbled and used like Ananias to help spring Paul into ministry. What do you take away from this story? Does it make you want to close well, be someone's set-up man, both? Please share your thoughts.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Arugula Pesto
Enliven your pasta repertoire with this healthier summer sauce from PrayFit and Food Network contributor Dana Angelo White.