Two Caterpillars

Coral Ridge Ministries

Two Caterpillars

2 Corinthians 3:18

February 17, 2024

“But we all, seeing the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, as in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.”

— 2 Corinthians 3:18

One thing about the leading of God’s Spirit to grasp is that it isn’t always easy or comfortable. What Paul experienced was running into one wall after another, one obstacle after another as God led him, so he could later say, “For the love of Christ constrains us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

I know that certainly in my life it hasn’t been a matter of being carried on a wave of happy circumstances, but it has been confronting one obstacle after another in an effort to transcend the limitations which circumstances seem to place on my life, because I have had the deep conviction that God has been leading me all along.

You remember the two caterpillars that were crawling in the muck and the mud, talking about whatever caterpillars talk to each other about in the muck and the mud. All of a sudden a large gorgeous butterfly came flitting down out of the sky right over their heads and went on up and up and up and disappeared altogether. And one of the caterpillars turned to the other one and said, “Boy, you’d never get me up in one of those things.” And what do you know, a short time later he is one!

And so it is with the Christian life. What looks so threatening from below is glorious when you experience it through obedience. He created us that we may come to the measure of the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, I do want to soar and to be right in the center of Your will. Increase my trust in You, for I often wonder how much Your best is going to hurt. Free me from my earth-boundedness.

IN GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN LIVE FROM GLORY TO GLORY.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

February 28, 2024

“Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” — Hebrews 12:2 In the early days of my pastoring, I had the pleasure of witnessing to a young man in his twenties, who finally accepted Christ. He was growing in the Lord. The very week after he joined the church, he made the central headlines of the newspaper. The FBI was looking for him for some kind of fraudulent activity he had been involved in before. In fact, when they found him, he was so overwhelmed by this experience he had a mental breakdown. I visited him in Broward Hospital’s mental ward. When I went into his room, he was like a caged lion. He hardly seemed aware of my presence. He was pacing back and forth across the room, mumbling to himself, moaning, bewailing, and gesturing about what was going to happen to him. He was possibly facing twenty years in prison. After some time, he quieted down as I read the Scripture to him about how Peter had looked at the waves and had begun to sink. I said to him, “You are looking at the waves, and you are sinking into total mental depression and agony of spirit. Lift up your eyes to Jesus. Fix your eyes upon Him. Look upon Him. Look unto Him.” Gradually, all of his anxiety and distress just seemed to drain away. He sat down in a chair and began to look at me with eyes that obviously were quite full of understanding. He was restored. Later, the charges against him were dropped. Though your problems seem insurmountable, fix your eyes on Jesus. Jesus Christ, give me strength for today to focus on You. Forgive me for too often focusing on the problems of life, but not You. If ever I should start to sink, let me say with Peter, “Lord, save me.” Thank You that You have overcome the world… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS.

The Secret to Walking on Water

February 27, 2024

“Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You on the water.’” — Matthew 14:28 As we know, one night when the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus was not present, a storm came up. They were afraid and even thought they saw a ghost. It was Jesus, walking on the water. Then, impetuous Peter said, “If it is you, let me walk on the water to You.” And Jesus said, “Come.” Peter, climbing up the gunnel of the ship, steps down upon the water, no doubt very hesitantly. Holding on to the side, he pushes himself away and begins to walk upon the waves, coming to Christ. What an extraordinary experience. Other than Jesus Christ, he is the only other human being I have ever heard of who actually walked upon water. Now, we may tend to smile at Peter because of the fearfulness that came upon him and his sinking into the waves. But, let us not forget that Peter did walk a number of steps upon the water. How about you? How many steps have you walked on water? Then Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the boisterous sea. He saw the effects of it in the waves that were dashing about him. And when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the waves, he began instantly to sink. How many times have you or I lain upon our beds at night microscopically examining the waves and wondering why we were sinking? If you would learn to walk on water, then don’t look at the waves, look at Jesus. Lord Jesus, thank You for holding us up in life, even through difficult storms. Help us to focus on You and not the wind and waves. Give us the grace to keep our eyes on You through the storms of life… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE CAN “WALK ON WATER.”

The Real Super Bowl

February 26, 2024

“Woe unto the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short.” — Revelation 12:12 Every year millions of Americans eagerly await the Super Bowl. This is when the two most successful and powerful teams in the country meet together for a final conflict, for the championship of the world, preceded by a long competition leading up to the final event. But when you think about it, there is a real Super Bowl, which is of far greater consequence than any football game. I am talking about a supernatural bowl in which there are two teams in this world that are involved in a contest for the championship of the world, for the dominion of the world. So in this “Super Bowl” it is Christians vs. the dragons, and many people don’t know what the outcome is going to be. There are those in our country today who join Satan’s team, really believing they are winning and are going to have the victory, receiving from below the success they are seeking in this world. It is a bowl that should indeed cause great interest, because not merely is there a trophy or ring involved, but the entire conquest and dominion of the world is at stake. This Super Bowl is described in the book of Revelation. Thank God we are on the winning side. As the hymn notes, “So from the beginning the fight we were winning.” Lord, give me strength for today to serve You, knowing that You have conquered the evil one. Though his “craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate,” You defeated Him, Jesus, on the cross and in Your resurrection. Renew my spirit to serve You with joy… BY GOD’S STRENGTH, WE KNOW WE ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE.