Walk On The Water

Have you ever wondered what the disciples felt that night?
No, I'm not talking about Peter, I'm talking about all the other disciples.
The ones that stayed in the boat.
The ones that didn't get out of the boat and walk on the water.
What were they thinking?
Why didn't they walk out to Jesus?
For some reason, we are quick to condemn Peter for falling. We should really be commending him for his "extreme" and "radical" faith that got him over the edge of the boat and onto the surface of the sea.
All of the disciples SHOULD have gotten out of the boat that night and walked on the water...but Peter was the only one of the twelve that took the leap of faith and got out of the boat.
His faith was considered "radical" because nobody else followed him.
He was the one that "dared to be different."
He "stepped out in faith."
He "took a chance."
He "did what seemed impossible."
He failed yes. He fell when he took his eyes off of Jesus.
But he DID walk on the water.
But he DID fix his eyes on Jesus for at least a little while.
He trusted Jesus so much that he put his beliefs into action.
He had faith.
And I firmly believe that is what Jesus wants from His children!
Even if we fail, which we will time and time again, He wants us to do the right thing and live life His way even if nobody else follows.

"On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time." Jonathan Edwards

The disciples stayed in the boat.
They didn't receive the blessing of Peter.
They didn't get to experience Jesus out on top of the water.
No, they didn't walk on the water with Jesus, but they learned an important lesson.
They stayed in the boat the whole time, and when Jesus came back, they worshipped Him!
The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"
KJV says they responded by saying, "Truly You are the Son of God!"
This was a moment of realization for the disciples!
They had seen one of their own step out and do something "radical" and it brought them to their knees, caused them to worship the Creator, and caused them to learn an important lesson.
Even after the feeding of the five thousand, it took one of them doing something considered "radical" to really truly GET that that Jesus was the Son of God.
May we all be as willing to step out on the water like Peter.
Wherever we find ourselves today, are we willing to step out in faith and be used by God? Or are we scared and timid like the disciples?
We will never feel "good enough" to do something "great" for God.
But God wants to use us where we are at, right here and right now.
All He's looking for is a heart that is set on Him.
His eyes roam to and fro searching for those whose hearts are set upon Him!
He longs to do great things through people that are after His own heart.

We will never be "good enough," we will never have it "all together," and that's ok! Jesus is just looking for a heart completely surrendered to Him.
Too often I come to the brink...
I come to the moment of decision and shrink back.
I hesitate.
I delay.
I refuse to step out in faith.
I'm afraid.
I'm scared of what might happen.
I don't want to fail.
But this is very prideful of me and it reflects the very very poor view of God that I often have.
God is COMPLETELY trustworthy! He will never let us go if we but fix our eyes on Him.
Will you give everything away for Jesus? Will you die to yourself and your own desires? Will you walk in the Spirit? Will you step out on the waters of faith no matter how "ready" you feel?
He is there.
Jesus is still on the water.
And He's waiting.
For me.
And for you.




"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
~C.S. Lewis from The Weight of Glory