Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them. They were scared of of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."
Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come ahead."
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when we looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"
Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?"
Matthew 14:24-31, The Message
Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."
He said, "Come ahead."
Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when we looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"
Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?"
Matthew 14:24-31, The Message
I've been thinking about this recently. I think that this is an excellent demonstration of the grace of God. Notice that it's Peter, who seems to say, in doubt, "if it's really you..." who is the one to step out on to water. But his faith in Jesus is so great that he trusts this form that seems to be Jesus. I can just imagine what it would be like to take a step or two out of the boat, on to the rocky sea. Can you? I would be freaked out with joy and encouraged by experiencing the power of faith! Faith in Jesus is so powerful it can defy the rules of physics! Oh Lord grow our faith in you!
But then, sigh, we see doubt's power to quench faith. "But when we looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink."
We see here the power that doubt has. It's all in our minds! As you see, the power to do great exploits. To make miracles happen! It all comes to our faith!
But then, sigh, we see doubt's power to quench faith. "But when we looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink."
We see here the power that doubt has. It's all in our minds! As you see, the power to do great exploits. To make miracles happen! It all comes to our faith!
Stay with me here! What I'm getting at is this: God can not work with doubt-filled minds! But with faith-filled minds, he can do anything!
So I encourage you reader... If Jesus asks you to step out of the boat, on to the rocky sea. The best that can happen is you will walk on those waves. And the worst is that he will pull you up from the water, and you'll need a change of clothes!
So I encourage you reader... If Jesus asks you to step out of the boat, on to the rocky sea. The best that can happen is you will walk on those waves. And the worst is that he will pull you up from the water, and you'll need a change of clothes!
No comments:
Post a Comment