IMMEDIATELY~
At once.
Instantly.
Not in a moment.
Not in a second.
Not even "let me think about it".
IMMEDIATELY~
"without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening" (Logos).
When?
IMMEDIATELY
because that is when miracles happen~
"IMMEDIATELY they received their sight and followed HIM" (Matthew 20:30)
"IMMEDIATELY the leprosy left him and he was cleansed" (Mark 1:42)
"IMMEDIATELY something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized" (Acts 9:18).
When?
IMMEDIATELY
Because that is how JESUS does things~
"IMMEDIATELY JESUS made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of HIM
to the other side, while HE dismissed the crowd"*
BUT
"Shortly before dawn JESUS went out to them, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw HIM walking on the lake, they were terrified.
“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear"*
BUT
"JESUS IMMEDIATELY said to them:
'Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid'*
And then Peter responded~
“LORD, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to YOU on the water”*
And then JESUS responded~
“Come,” HE said.*
And then Peter responded
IMMEDIATELY~
"Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward JESUS."*
BUT then it only took a moment for Peter to look away from JESUS~
& IMMEDIATELY
He began to sink~
"But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'LORD, save me!'*
BUT then JESUS does it again
IMMEDIATELY~
"IMMEDIATELY JESUS reached out HIS hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” *(Matthew 14:)
Oh how
I fall
IMMEDIATELY
when I take my eyes off of JESUS~
when I get distracted by all that is going on around me
making my FAITH waver~
In the midst of fear.
In the midst of doubt.
In the midst of ______.
BUT JESUS always responds
IMMEDIATELY
the moment my eyes are FIXED back on HIM.
There is no time like this moment
to IMMEDIATELY fix our eyes on HIM.
IMMEDIATELY
Forgiven~
"Then JESUS said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven'" (Luke 7:48).
IMMEDIATELY
Saved~
"JESUS said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace'” (Luke 7:50).
IMMEDIATELY
Free~
"JESUS said, 'If you hold to MY teaching, you are really MY disciples.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'" (John 8:31).
IMMEDIATELY~
without hesitation
to
IMMEDIATELY
Obey.
What do you have to stop doing or start doing
IMMEDIATELY
so that you can live a life of freedom?
Is it asking JESUS to come into your life?
Is it letting go of a habit/behavior?
Is it just asking for forgiveness for something you did or something someone else did to you?
Is it just BELIEVING HIM IMMEDIATELY in the midst of uncertainty?
Whatever it is
Let's just do it
IMMEDIATELY
so that we
get out of our comfy cozy boat
& walk on water
with the
One
Who
IMMEDIATELY
will keep us afloat
because
that is just how
JESUS
does things,
IMMEDIATELY~
even when our faith waivers
in fear
in anxiety
in worry
in doubt
in _______~
"But JESUS IMMEDIATELY said to them"*
&
IMMEDIATELY
says to us
“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid”*
even when all you can see and feel is the wind blowing all around you.
Because
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)
because
"YOU call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail"
(from the song "OCEANS" listen below)