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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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A healthychurch transforminglife...
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A Biblical reflectionJesus immediately said to them, 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' 'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.' 'Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. When he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?' (Matthew 14:27-31) What does it mean to trust God and follow Jesus? In an act of faith, Peter asks to come to Jesus. That act of faith required going to a place of complete and utter reliance upon Christ - the surface of a storm swept sea. In our Diocese, such a place of reliance is found as we do new things - things we have never done before. Are we prepared to do this? To follow Jesus is to engage in risk-taking and reliance on Him. Stepping out of boats onto dry land is one thing. To step out into unknown windswept waters is another! At each step of faith, the Faithful One is there to reach out His hand and catch us; hold us. We must go where we have never been before. We will go with the certainty of our Lord's constant presence as the Holy Spirit transforms every aspect of our diocesan life. 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you,' declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:11-14a) Now is the time to turn to seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, repent and turn to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord of our lives and of the Church. The future of the Anglican Church in Tasmania is built on the faithfulness of God as we turn to Him in faith and hope. |
