In the Footsteps of the Savior by Max Lucado

Author:Max Lucado
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2022-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked. (vv. 40–42 NKJV)

A pronouncement from the path would have worked. A declaration from afar would have awakened the girl’s heart. But Jesus wanted to do more than raise the dead. He wanted to show that he not only can and cares, but he comes.

Into the houses of Jairuses. Into the world of his children. He comes to the small as Mary’s baby and to the poor as a carpenter’s boy. He comes to the young as a Nazarene teenager and to the forgotten as an unnoticed kid in an obscure village. He comes to the busy as the oldest son of a large family, to the stressed as the leader of restless disciples, to the tired as one with no pillow for his head.

He comes to all. He speaks to all. He still urges:

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

Believe that he can, believe that he comes, believe that he cares. Oh, how we need to believe. Fear pillages so much peace from our days.

When ancient sailors sketched maps of the oceans, they disclosed their fears. On the vast unexplored waters, geographers wrote words such as these:

“Here be dragons.”

“Here be demons.”

“Here be sirens.”

Were a map drawn of your world, would we read such phrases? Over the unknown waters of adulthood, “Here be dragons.” Near the sea of the empty nest, “Here be demons.” Next to the furthermost latitudes of death and eternity, do we read, “Here be sirens”?

Mark it down. You will never go where God is not. You may be transferred, enlisted, commissioned, reassigned, or hospitalized, but—brand this truth on your heart—you can never go where God is not. “I am with you always,” Jesus promised (Matt. 28:20 NKJV).

Don’t be afraid; just believe.

The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. Even Christ was afraid (Mark 14:33). But make your fear a visitor and not a resident. Hasn’t fear taken enough? Enough smiles? Chuckles? Restful nights, exuberant days? Meet your fears with faith.

Do what my father urged my brother and me to do. Summertime for the Lucado family always involved a trip from West Texas to the Rocky Mountains. My dad loved to fish for trout on the edge of the white water rivers. Yet he knew that the currents were dangerous and his sons could be careless. Upon arrival we’d scout out the safe places to cross the river. He’d walk us down the bank until we found a line of stable rocks. He was even known to add one or two to compensate for our short strides.

As we watched, he’d test the stones, knowing if they held him, they’d hold us. Once he was on the other side, he’d signal for us to follow.

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