"David did not face Goliath on the battlefield because he had studied hi opponent's fighting style and had uncovered a weakness. He trusted God." (1 Samuel 17:37)
"Naaman did not slip seven times in the Jordan river because of recent findings in medical research. It was faith. (2 Kings 5:13-14)
"Paul did not decide to abandon the Law and embrace grace because it was common sense. He met Christ, and it changed him forever." (Romans 3)
In these accounts of three men, one thing is in common: they trusted first. They let go of common sense, of their own security, of their own strength and let God. They did not decide first what to do and then leave the rest to God, or let God do a part and they do the rest. Although they have sinned and were unclean, they heeded God's call to trust only Him. They let go of their self-righteousness.
Matthew 14
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distancea]">[a] from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
During this time, they were already exhausted, they have been rocked by waves and have been afraid to lose their dear lives for hours. All they knew was fear. That sinking, desperate feeling that nothing else can make things better. That was the only thing on their minds. They saw Jesus and thought he was a ghost and their fear must've been doubled. But Jesus immediately said, "It is I, do not 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.Jesus knows that there are things or circumstances where we experience fear and even when we are not calling unto him, he already tells us not to be afraid because He is. HE IS GOD.
Peter made a very very bold move. He stood up, stepped out of the boat (the thing that you know is supposed to save and protect you), and onto the water, and walked toward Jesus as if he were walking on a pavement. His eyes were focused on Jesus.
Making a bold move is focusing our eyes on Jesus. The boat and the shore which symbolizes security, protection, provisions, even blessings are out of our sight. Which means, even when we are experiencing pain, loss, and deprivation, we must exert effort to focus solely on Him. Without expecting to be cut some slack from the pain, look unto Jesus. And just like Peter, you can walk on water. Towards Him. Nothing else matters but our relationship with the one and only person who can save us.
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
On the course of our walk towards Jesus, we may experience fear, like Peter. He saw the wind and panicked, doubted. When our circumstances do not change, when it seems like we've been down for an unreasonably long time, when focusing on Jesus starts to move to the bottom on our list of to-do's, we lose it. We begin to sink. Peter called out.
We may think that it's too late to call onto Jesus but it's not. It's never too late to call on Him. Because he will IMMEDIATELY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY reach out his hand. It's what He's wanted to do all along.
8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4)
J.B.
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