April 6, 2005
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” --Matthew 14:31-33
In Matthew 14:22-33, we meet Simon Peter, the disciples, and Jesus in an interesting scenario. Jesus was walking on the water before the amazed disciples who were being tossed about in their boat, and Peter decided to take a step of faith out onto the sea. He cried out, “Lord if it is You, command me to come to You…”
When Peter took his first step focusing his eyes on Jesus, he began walking on water as well. But he soon felt the boisterous winds, became frightened, and started to sink. When he called out to Christ to rescue him, Jesus said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
You can be certain of the purpose regarding the way this scene unfolded. Jesus was teaching the disciples in this storm to walk on water. At least Simon Peter was willing to get out of the boat. Jesus wanted to show His disciples how to have faith, and he wants to show you how to live in that same arena.
Too many Christians live in their quiet, quaint comfort zones. You may have a comfortable pew, have your life together, and think you don’t need to learn faith. But if you’re not committed to a cause or a goal that has the risk of failure in it, then you haven’t learned to walk in the arena of faith.
If your ever going to know the real joy and victory of the Christian life, then you’ve got to start believing God enough to come through in any situation. F.B. Meyer, a great Bible teacher, said, “We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible.”
Are you trusting God to do anything in your life today? Where is your faith? Peter got out of the boat. You may say, “Yeah and look what happened—he fell in!” But he walked farther on water than any of the rest of us ever have. He lived by faith. Get out of the boat and be all that God wants you to be!
BE READY TO WALK ON WATER WITH YOUR FOCUS ON CHRIST
WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE COME YOUR WAY.
