LET’S FIND OUT!

KEY SCRIPTURE:  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?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ~ Matthew 14:29-32 (ESV)

I seem to be referring to this key scripture a lot recently. Probably because we’re all in the midst of a terrible storm right now! And, probably because I am sooooo like Peter! 

Let’s review the story. The disciples are in the midst of a terrible storm, in a boat without Jesus and they’re doing everything they can to reach the shore. Suddenly they see Jesus walking on the water… and they all completely freak out. Jesus tells them it’s Him and not to be afraid, and Peter basically says, “If it’s really you, then let me come out to you!” Jesus says, “Come.”

Now… let’s just pause right there for a minute.

Do you think Jesus would say, “Come,” just to have Peter get out of the boat and sink to his death? I mean, I guess he COULD have… but… seriously?  That doesn’t sound like God’s heart to me.

No, I think Jesus wanted to give Peter a gift, so He invited Him to receive it. He said, “Come.”

We all know what happens next… Peter gets out of the boat, starts walking (on the water!) towards Jesus, but then looks away from Jesus to the wind and the waves, is reminded of his fears, freaks out again, and starts to sink. Only then does he look back to Jesus and cry out, “Lord, save me!” Of course, Jesus immediately does, and then He asks Peter, “Why did you doubt?”  Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it sounds like Jesus is REALLY disappointed here… like, “Awww man! Why did you doubt? I had SUCH an awesome gift for you!”

Imagine for a moment what MAY have happened if Peter had kept his eyes on Jesus, and walked all the way to where Jesus was…

… maybe the storm would have cleared immediately, right then, instead of when they got back into the boat.

… maybe all the other disciples would have seen it was possible, and they would have gotten out of the boat and been able to receive the gift of walking on the water, too.

… maybe they would have all had a game of tag in the now warm sunshine on the shimmering surface of the lake.

I know, it’s far-fetched… but… is it? Can you imagine it? Can you imagine the joy of God’s heart seeing His children frolicking in His gift?

Poor Peter get’s such a bad rap. I mean, if ONLY he’d kept his eyes on Jesus, right? But, I didn’t hear any of the other disciples asking to join Jesus on the water. I know I sure wouldn’t have! This is where I would NOT be like Peter! I probably would have been cowering in the bottom of the boat, clinging white-knuckled to the sides, weeping uncontrollably, screaming, “We’re all gonna diiiiiiiiie!!” 

Not Peter. 

He was daring… if even just for a moment.

What are WE afraid of in this storm? God tells us He will never leave us or forsake us, (Deuteronomy 31:6) that He will be with us always, even to the end of the age, (Matthew 28:20) and that He has GOOD plans for us. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Then, why are we so afraid of receiving His gifts?

Is it because we are focused on the wind and the waves, instead of on Him?

What are the wind and the waves in our storm?  What are we afraid of right now?

Is it that we have too much to lose? That it will cost us too much?  Too much time, too much money, too much energy, too much strength…. too much faith?  Or like in Peter’s case, it might cost us everything… we’re afraid it might kill us?

Or, is it because we must let go of control?  We must let go of the boat in order to take a step of faith… and trust?

What would it look like if we trusted?

What if we climbed over the side of the boat?

What if we stepped out onto the frigid water?

What if we let go of the boat (whatever that represents for each of us right now,) and dared to take a few faltering steps of faith towards Jesus?

What if we kept our eyes (and hearts and spirits) fixed on Him and His Word and His promises?

What would our lives look like then?

What would our lives look like if we trusted Him enough to receive the gifts He holds out for us?

And who else would be blessed by seeing us walking on the water with Jesus??!!

Let’s find out! 

Together!!

In Jesus, name.

Amen.

SCRIPTURES

Deuteronomy 31:6 ~  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (NIV)

Matthew 28:20 ~ I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (NASB)

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT)