"Peter said to Him, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' And He said, 'Come!' And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus." Matt 14:28-29
In 2000, a very popular movie called "The Perfect Storm," starring George Clooney, hit the theatres. In short, it was about a man trying to make a living by fishing who got himself and his crew in real trouble by ignoring advice to seek haven from a massive storm system that featured a hurricane. I think of this movie when I imagine Peter getting out of a boat in a relatively similar storm. I wonder how much I would trust the Lord in a similar situation.
The first time the apostles found themselves on a boat in the middle of a massive storm, Jesus was asleep in the lower part of the vessel. The apostles feared for their very lives and angrily woke Jesus and asked him why he was sleeping and if he cared that their lives were in danger. In this case there was little trust. I say little because they were fearful of their lives in the presence of the universe's creator, but they did consult him indicating that they thought there was something that he could do about their dire situation.
The next time they were on a boat in a storm, Jesus was not with them but came walking across the water to them. Recognizing him, it is evidenced that at least one of the apostles had grown in his trust for the Lord. Think again about the movie and then think about Peter getting out of the boat and walking across the water toward the Lord held up only by his trust of him.
Beloved we are like the apostles. We know Jesus and we know at least intellectually that of which he is capable. But early in our Christianity our instinct is to continue to rely on ourselves rather than the Lord. This is sometimes true well into our Christianity. However, the more we spend time with him, the more we get to know him, the more we learn about him, the more we see that he rescues us from situations we could not possibly rescue ourselves, the more we will trust him. As we continue to grow, we can then fully embody the sentiment, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" Phi 4:13. Try him. Trust him.
Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee
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