Tuesday, April 15, 2008

A Toddler’s First Steps

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. 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?” Matthew 14:29–31 (HCSB)

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The disciples are over a mile from shore as a violent storm moves across the Sea of Galilee . All eyes are on a ghostly figure walking toward their boat. And then Jesus, walking on the water, says, “It is I.”



Bold and brash, Peter says, “Lord, if it is you, then command me to come to you on the water!”

Jesus tells Peter to come, and so the disciple steps out of the boat. He’s actually walking on the water toward Jesus! But then he remembers the storm, and he looks around at waves that seem to be taller than his own height; he hears the wind howling like a freight train coming down the track.

He begins to sink into the stormed-battered sea, over a mile from shore, several feet from the boat, but within arm’s length of Jesus, who catches hold of Peter, keeping him from sinking.

Jesus says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

How do you read the words of Jesus? Do you hear them as an angry rebuke, or do you hear as if they were said by a loving father, who’s just seen his small child walk for the first time?

What does this mean?

· Jesus is for you, not against you – Can you imagine a father, watching his child walk for the very first time, becoming angry because the young one stumbles and falls after just two steps? The father is for the child, encouraging each new step, ready to catch hold of the baby if she/he starts to fall. Jesus wants you to succeed when you step out in faith. He is pleased when you take steps of faith, no matter how small.

· In faith, believe Jesus is for you – Your next step of faith may be to believe, in faith, that Jesus is for you as you step out of the boat of self-reliance. If you struggle to believe Jesus is for you, and not against you, ask God to show you why? What are the roots to this perception of God-against-you? I believe, Lord; help my unbelief.

· Jesus is there to catch hold of you – If your faith falters, Jesus will reach out his hand to steady you. (Matthew 14:29–31, HCSB)..... Jon Walker


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