Skip to main content

Get out of the Boat



            “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’  ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said” (Matthew 14:25-29).
            I have a simple question for you: Why did Peter ask to get out of the boat?
            I mean, he had spent his whole life being a fisherman.  He had been through many storms on that lake.  He knew that the best place to be was in the boat, so why did he ask to get out of it?
            I do not think that Peter was trying to test Jesus’ power.  If that was the case, he could have asked for a safer miracle like, “Lord, if it is you, transport me to the shore instantly!” 
            I think that Peter asked to get out of the boat for one reason:  He wanted to be close to Jesus!
            That is his whole motivation.  He knew that he was in trouble and he knew that if he could just get close to Jesus that everything would be ok.  If being close to Jesus meant getting out of the boat and walking on the water in a storm, so be it.  (Note that he did say to Jesus “Let me walk on the water” but rather “Tell me to come to you”!)
            Too many Christians these days try to live their lives apart from Christ.  They like to pray to him and ask him for help when it is necessary, but taking a risk to be nearer to him never crosses their mind.  The truth is, though, that things only start to change when we get close to him. 
            Think of it this way:  If you had two magnets, one in each hand, and you held them at arm’s length apart, what would happen?  Nothing!  However, if you started moving those magnets closer and closer to one another, eventually they would act upon each other and “snap” together. 
            What is true about magnets is also true about us and Jesus:  Distance determines impact.
            Peter could have stayed where he was and played it safe, but he knew that the best place to be was with Jesus and he was willing to do anything to get there.
             What about you?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consider This: What is so Great About Grace?

If you were to drive by our house, you would see that Sara loves plants.  Our yard is full of flowers, and Sara lovingly tends every one of them. Which is why I was so afraid when she left town and put me in charge of keeping things alive. She must have been a little concerned, too, because she sent me two videos with specific instructions on how to water, when to water, and what to do.  Honestly, those first two videos helped, but the third one she sent was the one I liked most.  In that one, she said, “Please do your best. I want the yard to look good for the family reunion in two weeks.  However, if something dies, we will dig it out and pretend that it never existed!” That is what grace looks like!  Try your best, do what you can, but if it goes wrong, it will be ok. Sometimes we talk as though grace and effort are opposites.  That is not true.  They are partners. In one place, scripture asks, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone c...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: Thanksgiving in Real Time

                    Thanksgiving weekend means that many of us will spend time together with family and friends, eat a lot of food and think about what we are thankful for in our lives.   Unfortunately, after that, most will go back to their normal routines and leave thankfulness behind.                   What would happen if thanksgiving were part of our everyday life, rather than something we focused on a few times per year?   Where would we even start?                 According to Philippians 1:18-26, the apostle Paul remained joyful and thankful, even while imprisoned for his faith, by holding on to three important practic...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do You See the Angel?

          In the gospels, the story of Jesus’ birth is preceded by the prediction of the birth of “John the Baptist”.              John’s father, Zechariah, was a priest at the temple in Jerusalem.   One day, while he was burning incense to God, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John” (Luke 1:13).               This was surprising news to Zechariah and so he asks, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” (verse 18).   That is a logical question, right?   I mean, he is asking for a sign so that he can believe something that seems quite unbelievable.   Who would fault him for that?        ...
Post a Comment
Read more