Wow! I can’t believe it is October! This summer has gone by so fast is has been a blur.
This coming week in our children's classes at church we are going to be looking at the miracle of when Jesus walked on the water.
As Jesus and his disciples are leaving the crowd of over 5,000 people that Jesus has just miraculously fed with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish,
Jesus sends his disciples in a boat to cross a lake and He goes up a mountain
to pray. During the night a storm comes up and the boat is being tossed by the wind
and waves. You know the story. Jesus walks out on the water to his disciples.
What a shock! They are terrified! They think he is ghost… I mean people don’t walk
on water… right! But immediately, Jesus calls out to them and tells them not to
be afraid. Peter asks, “Lord, if it is you, then call me to come to you.” So,
Jesus tells him to come. Peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the
water to Jesus. The scriptures tell us that then Peter saw the wind, was afraid
and began to sink.
There are so many things that I love about this story!
I love that Jesus is never hindered by the natural. He needs to get to the other
side of the lake and doesn’t have a boat, so what does he do? He walks on the
water. I love that Jesus loves the disciples so much that when they see Him and
are terrified, He calls out to them and tells them not to be afraid. Aren’t
there times all of us need to hear the voice of Jesus telling us not to be
afraid that He is with us! I love that Peter gets out of the boat! Yeah, he
sinks, but who else besides Jesus do we ever hear of that actually walked on
the water? How many other men sat in the boat and just watched!? I love that Jesus
reached out and caught Peter even when he was sinking in doubt and fear. Aren’t
you glad that Jesus doesn’t abandon us in our fear and doubt?!? I love that
Jesus gets into the boat with the disciples that didn’t get out of the boat?
They didn’t take that step of faith and Jesus still got into the boat with them
and calmed the storm that surrounded them. Jesus is continually working with us
as we grow in our faith, confidence and trust in him. I love the truth embedded
in this story. Don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. Keep your focus on Him. Don’t
begin to look at and focus on the storm around you or fear will creep into your
thoughts and you will begin to sink. This may be a relatively short story in
the Bible, but it sure packs a punch! There are so many truths about God and
His love for us that can be seen. This story stretches me. This story calls to my
inner being. I sense that desire to focus on Jesus and get out of the boat. I desire
to disregard the storms around me because of the miraculous God that stands before
me! I want to trust that if I fall I know He will catch me! I want to get out
of the normal and mundane boat and take a wonderful walk on the water with my
God and Savior! I am comforted that when I fail, He picks me up. I am comforted
that when I don’t get out of the boat because of fear, He still loves me and
comes to me! Don’t you just love the One True God that is revealed in this
story!!!! Jesus can be trusted with our lives! He is faithful and loving. And He is for us!
What an awesome God! He is not limited by this
natural realm. He is the Creator of all things. He is the Healer, Redeemer,
Life Giver, Restorer, Provider, Peace Giver, Holy One, Righteous One, the King
of Kings and the Lord of Lords and He cares about you!
Whatever you may be facing today I want to
encourage you to trust in the Greater One! He is more than enough!
