Here is an excerpt from my notes, and links to hear the messages I taught called Fearless and Wise Living in June at Rocky Mountain Christian Ministries. I’ve been meaning to post these for you for some time. I hope these messages encourage you today to get out of the boat!
Peter asked to be called out onto the water. . .
[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. [30] but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” [31] Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”Matthew 14:28-31
Peter saw the waves before he got out of the boat – it’s not like he didn’t know they were there. Peter knew he was getting out of a boat that was in the middle of the sea, with wind, and waves. So often people say stuff like, “I just don’t know what’s next, I’m just stepping out in blind faith.” You may not know what the next 10-steps are, but you probably are very aware of what Jesus is asking you to step out into right now, today. When we don’t obey quickly we can get caught in confusion and deception. We sit in the boat thinking that we are not making progress because God is trying to teach us a lesson, or he’s waiting for us to perform some great feat of spiritual maturity. The only thing He is waiting for you to do is to get up and out of the boat and start walking in faith towards what he’s put in you to do.
. . . “but when he saw the wind” Peter started thinking about those waves – I bet they looked much bigger from outside of the boat than they did from inside the boat. I bet he was feeling pretty exposed.
We are pretty hard on Peter for ‘doubting’. But let me ask you this – how many boats have you gotten out of to walk on water? How many steps have you taken on water? But Peter got out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus. It would be a pretty cool story if he’d only stood on the water. One step, two? Not sure – but he got out there.
Personally, I think the HS was doing back flips he was so excited at this step of faith.
When we step out of the boat, when we step out in faith into what God is calling us (i.e. commanding, and summoning) to we are not stepping out into an unknown. Though we may not know what will happen, or how it will all work out (how exactly does this walking on water thing work? What does running a successful business look like?), we can have the confidence to step out because we are always stepping out into Christ. We grow our faith by getting to know Him more. The more you know of his love, his faithfulness, his goodness, his mercy, his grace – the more confidence you have to step out of the boat and walk on the water.
