This past Sunday, at our Shawnee Campus, I spoke on Matthew 14, where Jesus invites Peter to join him by walking on water. If you have the space later, you can watch the message on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/newcityshawnee/. For now, I want to offer some further thoughts about this scripture.
This complete story is found in Matthew 14:22-32. However, want to speak specifically to verse 29, “And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.”
There are times, in the life of a disciple, where Jesus invites you to join Him in what He is doing. And what He invites you into is so beyond your ability (or desire), that He might as well be asking you to walk on water. You can’t do it. You don’t know how to do it. You don’t want to do it. Yet, in the midst of your reasons and excuses, you still know that Jesus is saying, “Come.”
When you find yourself in situations, when God is saying, “Come” but you’re saying, “I can’t”, be cautious that you don’t wimp out and put on a life jacket.
Walking on water, while wearing a life jacket is wimping out.
To quote a friend of mine, “Many of us just have half-faith. We say we trust in Jesus, but we also have a backup plan to save ourself.”
This reminds me of James 1:6-7, “For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.”
Do you have half-faith right now? Are you walking on water while wearing a life jacket? Are you double-minded?
If so, confess it. If so, do whatever it takes to establish full-faith.
Remember this, if Jesus invites you to join Him in what He is doing, you can trust that He will take complete care of you. Look what happened to Peter when he took his eyes off of Jesus, “and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’”
Jesus will not let you sink. Jesus will save you.
Today’s Prayer:
Father, thank you for inviting me to join you in what you are doing. As I follow you, I ask that you give me courage. I confess the temptation to establish backup plans. I confess my lack of trust in you. I ask that you create within me a full-faith. I confess your son, Jesus, as my leader and savior. Guide me by your Holy Spirit to live within this confession every day. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.