A Life Worthy

Tag: walking on water

  • One-a-Day Thursday, 7/24/14

    number 1But when he saw the wind, he was afraid (Matthew 14:30).

    Poor Peter.

    There he was, walking on the water, standing on the waves with the One who made them.

    It doesn’t get much better than that.

    And it didn’t.

    Because he took his eyes and his thoughts off of Jesus for just a moment.  And a moment was all it took.  Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what went through Peter’s mind at that moment, but I’m thinking it was along the lines of, “What am I doing?  I can’t walk on water!”

    And, just like that, he couldn’t.

    Peter’s in good company.  The prophet Elijah would understand completely.  He had just called down fire from God—pretty impressive—to annihilate the wicked prophets of Baal.  A little showy, perhaps, but very effective—and an obvious demonstration that God was with Elijah.  This annoyed Queen Jezebel, and she threatened to kill Elijah.

    So he ran.  Fast and far.  For just a moment, he took his eyes off God and focused on the danger represented by this woman.  And just like that, the danger became more real that the God Elijah served.

    I’ve done it, too.  So have you.  God is doing something wonderful in our lives, teaching us, growing us, showing us new dimensions of his love…

    And then we look down, like the tightrope walker a thousand feet in the air.

    And we panic.

    Scripture tells us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.  Life backs that up.

    What is God calling you to, Beloved?  What is he working on in you?  It doesn’t have to be as grand as walking on water or calling down fire—though if he does, call me.  I wanna watch.  It could be as ordinary as learning to trust him with your future, as simple as learning to love unconditionally, as basic as learning to give without thought of reward.

    Actually, walking on water may just be easier than any of those.

    Whatever today’s challenge is, lock your eyes on the author and perfecter of your faith and start walking.

    Don’t look down, Beloved.

  • One-a-Day Monday 7/21/14

    number 1When the disciples saw [Jesus] walking on the water, they were terrified.   “It’s a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage.  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27).

    The disciples were terrified.  They saw something coming at them out of the darkness; something they didn’t understand, something they didn’t recognize.  They were helpless and alone—or so they thought.  They assumed the worst, and their courage failed.

    But it was Jesus.

    It was Jesus.

    Now, we could chide the disciples for not recognizing Jesus.  After all, he was their master, their teacher, their constant companion.  How could they not know it was the Lord?

    But let’s not pick on Peter and the boys.  I don’t think it was their fault.  I don’t think it was shallowness, or selfishness, or spiritual insensitivity that caused them to mistake Jesus for a ghost.  I think it was much simpler than that.

    Jesus came in a way that they weren’t expecting.

    I mean, he was walking on water, for corn sake.  Who’s watching for that?

    Jesus was doing a God thing, and the disciples were seeing it through Man eyes.

    Hmm…

    So I wonder…how many of the things that are terrifying in my life are, in fact, Jesus at work?  As I panic and prepare to dive overboard, is he simply coming to me, teaching me, working in me, in a way that I’m not used to?

    Am I willing to let him work, even though it scares me?

    Because if you know your Scripture, you know what’s coming next.

    Take courage, Beloved.