Question

HERE'S THAT WORD "FEAR" AGAIN! - Linda Willis

Thanks to Linda Willis for sharing this:

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" – Matthew 14:29-30 NIV

I’ve been reading a book entitled “it” written by Pastor Craig Groeschel and in the book there is a question credited to Pastor Robert Schuller that has really grabbed hold of me over the past few days:

“What would you attempt if you knew it couldn’t fail?”

In other words, if God would bless anything that you do, and if money and a chance of failure were not issues, what would you attempt?

That question can be asked of us as individuals… asked of us as a church… asked of us as business and government leaders/workers/employees… and asked of us as Believers.

In Matthew 14, we see the story of Jesus, and ultimately Peter, walking on the water.

After hearing the voice of Jesus… and knowing it was Him… Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus… while the other 11 Disciples cowered together/remained in the boat…

Sure, Peter “failed”… and his faith faltered… But you know what, before He failed and faltered, Peter walked on the water.

He had enough faith to step out of the boat and to walk toward Jesus… and only after he started taking in his circumstances… only after he took his eyes off of Jesus and started seeing the crashing waves and feeling the wind in his face… did he start to sink and thrash around.

What if Peter never stepped out of the boat?

Then he never would have known what it was like to walk on water.

I can’t help but wonder… contemplate… if that experience helped him later in life as he led the “church”… I wonder if it came to mind when he spoke to the crowds and 3,000 people made Jesus their Savior?

Peter learned from his failure… Though he had many more learning moments, he took something from that moment with Jesus on the water… he learned about faith… about real faith… and keeping that faith in and through any circumstances that he may face… He remembered and learned and grew even after he denied, heard the rooster crow and ran away…

What will it take for us to step out of the boat… to attempt whatever it is that fear of failure or lack of resources (or both) keeps us from attempting?

When will we trust more than we fear?

Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem

“Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"” – Matthew 14:31 NIV

Visit Oldlazydog.com to register for the Great Day Addendum
© Great Day Addendum Copyright 2008