GET OUT OF THE BOAT - Matthew 14:22-36
GET OUT OF THE BOAT - Matthew 14:22-36
What Does it Say? Jesus sent the disciples on ahead while he dismissed the crowd and spent some time praying by himself. A storm came up and the disciples are still a long way from shore. Jesus walked on the water out to meet them. They saw him coming and thought He was a ghost and were afraid. Jesus identified Himself and Peter asked Jesus to empower him to walk on water and Jesus did. Peter got out of the boat and started walking, but got scared when he saw the wind and the waves and started sinking. Jesus reached out and took hold of his hand and asked why he had so little faith? When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind stopped.
What Does it Mean? Jesus set the stage for the disciples to see Him walking on water. He sent them away before he sent the crowds away and then He went up to pray. He had just heard that John was beheaded and was grieving when the crowds interrupted Him. He knew He needed some time alone with God and He planned ahead to make sure He got it. An extended time alone with God reading the Bible and praying is really beneficial; we will need to plan for it because it won't just happen. After Jesus' time alone with God in prayer, He walked on the water out to the disciples' boat. The disciples weren't expecting to see Him walking on the water. When things happen we don't expect, we get rattled too. Peter was the first to recover and He asked Jesus to let him walk on the water too. Sometimes God gives us opportunities to do things that we have never done before. At first we are really excited and get off to a good start. Then we look around at what God is enabling us to do and we get scared, thinking we can't do it. That is when we need to keep our eyes on Jesus and remember that it is God doing the work, we are only the tools he uses. Keep your eyes on Jesus, take courage, and keep going. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that God did not give us a spirit of timidity and fear, but of power, love, and self control. So how do we practically keep our eyes on Jesus? First and foremost, we get to know God and feel comfortable talking to Him about whatever is on our heart. Just like any other relationship, it takes time to get to know God. At first it will seem awkward and our confidence in Him will be low. As our relationship grows, we recognise His voice and feel His love. We trust Him in the little things and our confidence in Him grows. We direct our focus onto God through Christian music, read passages from the Bible, or talk to a friend and have them pray for us. How do we take courage and keep going? Remember God is in control and ask Him to help us. Do what we would do if we weren't scared. Because Peter knew Jesus and trusted Him, he got out of the boat. Ask God to help us trust Him enough to get out of the boat and keep our eyes fixed on Him while He accomplishes His work through us. What are you afraid of?