Scripture: Matthew 14:20-35 - Jesus Walks on the Water
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him.
In this week's passage, we see that Peter stepped out from the safety of the boat to join Jesus as he was walking on water. This is often used to illustrate the importance of stepping out on faith. However, Peter did more than step out on faith; he stepped out on the word of God. Check this out in … 27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." 28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Jesus said one simply word “COME” and Peter heard that from Jesus which strengthened his faith and he acted on that word. Nevertheless, once on the water… 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Although Peter was with Jesus, walking on water, he allowed himself to doubt his faith but more importantly he doubted the word of God, and began to sink and Jesus reached out his hand and saved him. What a mighty God we serve!
How many of us were on the boat of life, facing the winds of life, bad relationships, family issues, sickness, death, or hopelessness, and then we saw Jesus, asked to join him, we are out of the boat and now we doubt his word? Yet he is still saying to each of us COME, just step out of your situation and join me, and even when you begin to fail I will reach down and save you. Simply step out on my word… COME!
It is simple; usually we make two mistakes while we are out of the boat. When things are going well we tend to believe that things will always be good. When things are not going well, we tend to think they will always be bad. Both ideas are wrong. Life and all it consists of -- our marriage, our faith, our relationships, and our finances tends to go up and down in cycles, but there is one consistent presence in all of this: God's word! His word never changes and as we study his word, as it will allow our faithfulness in him to grow. Today, whether your boat is in or out, lean on the Word of God, and learn of the faithfulness of God and be thankful for his goodness; be thankful for his love and mercy. Be thankful for all that he has given us!
Finally, when you have given your best and seem to be making no progress, there is no need for you to struggle with what ever it is you are trying to deal with. You cannot do it alone. Take refuge in the grace of God's word. Pray and surrender all of ur concerns to Jesus, and open yourself to his guidance and provision. Then step out on his word... "COME" Step out on Faith! AMEN!
Have a blessed week!
Elder Michael L. Hargett
Peace of God Outreach Ministries
Pastors Gary and Patricia Stern
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