Just before dawn - darkest hours of the night - Jesus walked on stormy waters, approaching the boat of the disciples. They saw him on the waters and were terrified, thought he was a 'ghost'. (Matt 14:22-33) When they realized it was Jesus, Peter said to him, 'Tell me to come to you.' (vs.28) Jesus said, 'Come.' (vs.29) As Peter walked on water, approaching Jesus, we're told, 'he saw the wind, he was afraid, and he began to sink...' (vs.30) We all have this experience of Peter, in different ways. Maybe you're in one right now. We have seen the Lord in our path, we have heard him call us in a direction, we take 'miracle steps' in that direction (like Peter walking on water), but then the wind and waves surge up around us, and we begin to sink. We doubt. Peter cried out to the Lord to save him, and Jesus caught him. Jesus then asked him, 'Why did you doubt?' (vs.31) When Peter saw the wind and waves surge, threaten, I wonder did any of these 'type' of questions shoot through his head and heart: 'I've sinned! I should never have 'tested' the Lord in this!' (Remember, Peter asked Jesus to call him out...) or, 'This was my idea, my pride, the Lord is angry with me and my destruction is his will!' or, 'Maybe it wasn't Jesus I saw, who called me, I've been deceived!' or, 'I thought he called me, maybe I misheard!' or, 'Jesus has let me down!' Also, I wonder if Peter actually felt that the 'appropriate' response to this surge of danger and pressure, was to stop, to sink, to re-think... My friends, it would appear from what Jesus said - 'Why did you doubt?' (vs.31) - that none of the above thoughts or feelings were on point. The truth is, it was Jesus that Peter had seen, it was Jesus he had heard, his 'miracle steps' had indeed brought him this far, and the miracle was still beneath his feet, and it would have honored Christ for Peter to steady his heart, hold fast to his belief, ignore the wind and the waves, and remain standing on water. There was no need - and no spiritual value - in any of Peter's fear, rethinking, reconsidering, or doubting. Is there an area of your life where you are floundering in faith, but it is 'miracle steps' that even has you in this place? Are you actually walking on water (God's many confirmations, his miracle, his path), but you have lost sight of the 'miracle' and are only seeing the wind and waves? My friend, this is your moment to 'remember', to be steadfast in faith, to honor God not with rethinking, reconsidering, or allowing the wind and waves to redefine your course, but with a battle cry, a worship stand, a prayer and shout of believing and fighting forward, in Jesus' name! You have heard the Lord, he has confirmed it, you have walked a long way 'on water', and now is your time to honor God in the storm with - faith! (Heb 11:6) PWALKER YOUTUBE PWALKER WEBSITE
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AuthorPeter Walker. Archives
March 2022
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