Not the Length But the Strength

Not the Length but the Strength

“And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.”                                                                                                                       Matt 14:28-32 (ESV)

Sometimes Peter gets a bad rap when it comes to his faith in Jesus. But in the account of Jesus walking on water and Peter getting out of the boat I do not see Peter deserving of the unkind words that are used against him. First thing for me as a boat operator to notice is that Peter gets out of the boat…with no life jacket!! Second thing I notice is no one else stops Peter from getting out of the boat on rough seas. If this was happening on my boat out in the Mullica River here in the Garden State, I would be flabbergasted. Because the end result would be Peter walking on the water towards The Savior in the midst of the wind storm and I would be stunned and my jaw would drop.

So after preaching to what is guessed at twenty thousand people and feeding them all, Jesus tells His disciples to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee while He dismissed the multitude. Jesus goes up into the mountains to pray and then a trial for the disciples begins. A wind comes upon the sea, the tiny ship was tossed and these twelve guys are finding panic in their obedience.” Get in the boat and go to the other side He said.” UH!! Well we could have read an account where the disciples boldly face the wind and cry out, “We shall make it to the other side because The Master said!!” but where would the lesson in faith go? Jesus appears on the water, they all see Him and Peter cries out, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” And Jesus says one word…”Come.”

And in a great step of faith Peter gets out of the boat. You see Peter wants to be in the center of Jesus’ will so his faith takes him out on the water and he begins to walk towards his Savior…until that faith is tested by the winds. And one of the shortest prayers ever recited comes out of Peter’s mouth, “Lord, save me!!” And Jesus reaches out and rescues Peter. Peter may have given us an example of the shortest prayer that I am quite sure all of you who are reading this right  now have done prayed from time to time, “Lord, save me!!” but he also gives us a bigger example all together. Peter gets out of the boat; he leaves his comfort zone to be with Jesus. And Jesus did not reject his weak faith either, instead Jesus saves Peter. And for those of us on dry land taking that first step of faith always seems to be the most difficult and yet Peter took his first step on rough waters.

Pastor Randy Smith (of Grace Tabernacle Church near Wall, NJ) tied his message concerning the account of Peter walking on the water with this, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7) I appreciated what Pastor Randy had said about it is safer to be with Jesus than to be in the boat and when you read 1 Peter 1:6-7 you know that it was written by someone who had firsthand experience on having their faith tested. Pastor Randy also said that God can do great things for those of us who choose to obey Him and that no command of Jesus is too bad to be done.

We think the safest place to be is in the boat and we just might be wrong about it. Being out in the open water has taught to have a measure of faith because you never can be quite too sure about the weather. I also keep my life jackets at the ready…having faith is one thing but there is no excuse for not being ready. I will close with these words of Peter, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV) -- Chris Hughes is a grad of the Colony of Mercy and is a part of the Freedom Fighter team

Digging Deeper: Proverbs 9; Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1

Dig This Quote: “We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke,”…why did you doubt?” Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.”                                                                                                     My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers

Determined Digging: Level 1: Zephaniah 3:17; Level 2: Psalm 139:23-24

Determined Praying:  Keep praying but be thankful that God's answers are wiser than your prayers. -- William Culbertson