…Peter…walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw
that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid… —Matthew 14:29-30
“The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were
high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he
simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on
the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and
instantly, down he went. […] 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?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your
actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining
complete reliance upon Him. If you debate for even one second when God has
spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He
really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and
willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him.” CHAMBERS
So there you have it .. simple … just trust Jesus … but it
is not so simple is it? Have you ever
stepped out of the boat in response to God’s call? I remember a conversation with friend of ours
in Waveland, MS. It was right after we
realized that the Lord was calling us to Haiti.
My friend who had traveled extensively with national news organizations
stood about three inches from my face and asked what he thought was a
reasonable question, “Are you crazy!”
When you respond to God’s call, whether it is to live for Him and forsake
your culture and what’s popular as a mother or father in a home with the family
or to go to some foreign land to do something that you did not imagine you
might ever do … the world will not understand … that is because God calls us to
the super-natural not the natural. If it
was natural, the world would understand it and then, of course, God would not
be glorified in it. God does not call us
to do what we can do naturally in our flesh … He stretches our faith by calling
to go beyond ourselves. Look at this ..
.Matthew 14:32 “And when they
climbed into the boat, the wind died down.”
Most times this is glossed over … it is the words “they climbed” Jesus and Peter stayed together and Peter
continues to do the super-natural but only through Jesus. Don’t ever think you can live this new life in
your own power. You will slip back into
the “natural” before you know it and your doubt will suffocate your faith. ELGIN
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his
glory and grace.”
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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