Walking on Water
Matthew 14:28-31: "And Peter answered him, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.' He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me.' Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'"
Peter tested Jesus with this request. Jesus affirmed who he was, the one walking on water, and told Peter to come. We know the story. Peter got out of the boat and experienced the miraculous as he, too, walked on water. The miraculous ended when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and put his eyes on the wind. Thankfully, Peter knew what to do. He cried out to Jesus and was rescued, rescued from his immediate fear and rescued from sinking deeper into the water.
Instead of being commended for his faith to get out of the boat, Peter was reprimanded for his lack of faith. Jesus wanted Peter to know he experienced the miraculous through the presence and empowerment of Jesus. Peter would be called to do seemingly impossible things after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. Surely this experience transformed Peter as well as the other disciples in the boat that day.
In these tumultuous times, Jesus is calling you to get out of your boat and to walk on the water. To do this, you must keep your eyes on him. Maybe your walking on the water is choosing to trust him for provision, to press on after the loss of someone you love, or to have the faith to send your beloved children back to college or school. There are many, many opportunities right now to choose faith.
What are you putting your eyes on through this storm? Your focus and the object of your focus will determine if you live in faith or live in fear. Let's put our eyes on Jesus and choose faith today!
Peter tested Jesus with this request. Jesus affirmed who he was, the one walking on water, and told Peter to come. We know the story. Peter got out of the boat and experienced the miraculous as he, too, walked on water. The miraculous ended when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and put his eyes on the wind. Thankfully, Peter knew what to do. He cried out to Jesus and was rescued, rescued from his immediate fear and rescued from sinking deeper into the water.
Instead of being commended for his faith to get out of the boat, Peter was reprimanded for his lack of faith. Jesus wanted Peter to know he experienced the miraculous through the presence and empowerment of Jesus. Peter would be called to do seemingly impossible things after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. Surely this experience transformed Peter as well as the other disciples in the boat that day.
In these tumultuous times, Jesus is calling you to get out of your boat and to walk on the water. To do this, you must keep your eyes on him. Maybe your walking on the water is choosing to trust him for provision, to press on after the loss of someone you love, or to have the faith to send your beloved children back to college or school. There are many, many opportunities right now to choose faith.
What are you putting your eyes on through this storm? Your focus and the object of your focus will determine if you live in faith or live in fear. Let's put our eyes on Jesus and choose faith today!
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