Summer At Sea: Week 11 Day 2

Matthew 14:22-36

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

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?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Have you ever prayed a prayer like Peter? “Lord, if you are calling me to…just tell me and I will do it.” Then when we step out into courageous obedience everything is good,  even exciting! Then, all too soon, we take our eyes off Jesus and start to look at our surroundings. The waves of our circumstances and the wind of the naysayers surround us. Suddenly, we don’t feel quite as sure footed out on the open water and we begin to sink; when Peter saw the wind and the waves, he did not sink; he didn’t sink until his focus went away from Jesus.

Once Jesus climbed into the boat with them and the wind and waves died down, the disciples made their first declaration of Jesus being the Son of God!  They saw Him for who He was. Friend, I do not know what God has called you to today, but I do know that you must keep your eyes on Jesus. When we do this we gain an eternal perspective. 

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. 

-Helen Howarth Lemmel