Stepping Out
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.
Matthew 14:28-29 (NIV)
You have probably heard several sermons on this popular passage. Mostly I've heard lessons about placing our focus and complete trust in Jesus, not looking at circumstances, but towards our Saviour. Keeping our eyes on Him, helps us to remain standing in the midst of the storm. This is all true, and very important foundations for remaining in Christ.
However, one evening as I was reading this passage again, Holy Spirit dropped revelation into my spirit that made a profound impact on me. For the first time, I discovered another wonderful truth and His call to greater faith.
I've always thought that Peter was filled with faith but failed, in this instance, because his fear of the wind made him doubt. This is true, but Peter had to have had great faith to even attempt getting out of that boat! Out of all the disciples in the boat, he was the only one that had an eager expectation and willingness to walk on water.
There were 12 disciples, and Peter was the one who decided to step out of the boat, leave the safety and comfort of the familiar, and do the impossible - walk on water. Yes, with God all things are possible! And yet many of us prefer to remain in the boat, maybe for fear of winds or sinking, reluctant to take that big step out of the boat.
I've heard people say: "Faith is spelled: R-I-S-K" . Surely that would imply that great faith would require us to take great risks? Faith requires obedience to Holy Spirit's leading, the willingness to forego our own comfort and step into the unknown. This while we trust that He who has called us is able to catch us, if we should start to "sink".
This is a call to step into more of what God has planned for us, and trust Him for the outcome. I believe every child of God has a choice to make, to live a life of faith (and "risk") adventures with God, or to choose comfort over faith and miss out on "walking on water"!
"12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 14: 12-13 New International Version
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Hebrew 11:6 New International Version
