Walking on Water

Many times as believers we desire those mountain top experiences. We long to "walk on the water" like Peter did. We want the miraculous. We want the "Wow! Look what Jesus did in my life" times. Have you ever thought, "Gee, I'd love to "walk on water with Jesus"?

In Matthew 14: 22-33 we find the account of that famous " walk on water" passage. If you will read this text  you will see that the context here is not a beautiful sunny day out on the lake. It is not the disciples and Jesus taking a Sunday afternoon ride out. Let's go for a relaxing boat ride, enjoying the scenery and fresh air. No, the timeframe is somewhere between 3-6 AM. You know, the time when we should be in a warm comfy bed!  It is dark. It is stormy. A stormy dark night paints the scene.  

Verse 26 tells us , " And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were  frightened, saying " It is a ghost!" and they cried out for fear." This scary, eerie, heart-pounding moment in time is  the context in which Peter calls out to Jesus and says, " Lord, if it is You command me to come to You on the water". 

As I am reminded of this miracle that has come to mean a" triumphant miracle moment in the Christian faith" I am also reminded of when it occurs. God doesn't allow us to " walk on water" with Him on the laid back easy sunny days. The water walking times come during the storms of life. They come when in the midst of our storm, we see Jesus out there on the turbulent waves, coming toward us despite the strong winds. The water walking times happen when we like Peter, call out to Jesus and ask Him to bid us to come.  

Let us note one other important facet of this account. Only Peter asked Jesus to " bid him to come out". Peter walked on the stormy sea because He believed and obeyed, therefore  he asked Jesus. In the storm we will walk on water if we will listen and obey these words, " Take courage, It is I; do not be afraid." ( Mt 14:27)

The others stayed in the boat because they did not request this of the Lord. Perhaps they were not convinced. Perhaps they were content with " just enough Jesus to get me to the other side". Whatever may have been in their mind we do not know. What the Bible does tell us is that only Peter asks! 

If you are in a storm but you don't seek Jesus to tell you to get out of the boat, you will still get to the other side. However, if you want to walk on the water with Him, obey His Word, and ask.

 "Follow Me; and allow the dead to bury their own dead." Matthew 8: 22 

In reading the passage in Matthew 8: 19-22, we may conclude that Jesus' words to this enthusiastic " seeker"   seem harsh. Here we have a potential disciple! A man professing interest in Jesus! Grab him, lets get him baptized and put him on a committee! Yay, add to the church membership numbers! Wow, Praise the Lord!  Look at this guys enthusiasm, " Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."   

Jesus doesn't react like we think He would. Instead He tells the guy, "Follow Me and allow the dead to bury their own dead." This sounds weird  to our modern day ears. Like Wow Jesus, You won't allow the guy to bury his dead father? But that is not what is being conveyed at all. In modern vernacular, what the man was saying is simply this: , "Let me go home and care for my father until he dies, and when I inherit the estate,  then I will catch up with you."

Don't we do the same today? Oh Jesus, I love You and want to serve You.  But let me get my household in order first. Let me get my kids out of high school and when I have more free time.... Let me finish this project at the office, then I am all Yours. I need to get my health right first, I need to______( fill in the blank with the excuse of your choice).

Jesus does not want a "show" of enthusiasm. He wants our heart. He demands a true, honest commitment to Him. Following Christ cannot be half hearted and lukewarm ( see Revelation 3: 15-16 ) He says to this man and to us, Count the cost. 

Many find a religious comfort zone. However, being religious is not the same as being in relationship with the Lord. Jesus words in Matthew 7:22-23 are a warning to all who think that an outward religious behavior will suffice as a substitution for following the Master," Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons and in Your name perform many miracles? And I will declare to them, " I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS". 

Jesus wants us to follow Him NOW, and any obligations we have must come AFTER Him, not before!

 

 What is Following You?

"Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:6

Good ol' Psalm 23. Most know it well. It is read very often at funerals!  Pastors and Bible teachers love to go through it, verse by verse, explaining the beautiful treasures found in these six verses.

But how often do we park on verse 6 and realize that goodness ( God's goodness) and His loving-kindness follow us, all the days of our lives as His children. 

I heard an advertisement on the TV for some company helping those who have credit problems. The ad posed the question, " Do you have credit debt following you every where you go?"  For some it may be credit debt following them. For others, it may be a past riddled with bad choices. The consequences of such choices seem to pop up every where, following them no matter where they relocate. What is following you?

I marvel at this statement made by David. David was a man after God's own heart, but he certainly made his fair share of bad choices. But God's goodness and loving-kindness still followed him, all of his days! The grace of God is undeserved favor. We do not earn it! In fact we cannot earn it! That is why is is called grace!  This wonderful duo that followed David and still follows God's own today. It is based God being who He says He is. In other words, it is God being faithful to His nature. God cannot deny Himself, He cannot act in any way that is contrary to His character, the very essence of who He is. God is good. Therefore He cannot be anything but good. God is faithful. He will always keep His promises! 

I'm so thankful that as a child of God, who has been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, I can say with joy, I am followed by God's goodness and lovingkindness! Even though I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death.... I'm being followed! What a comfort! 

I pray that you too can say those words with confidence and a smile on your face. 

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and entered into a relationship with God, it really is as simple as ABC.

A= Admit you have sinned. " For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:23) " There is no one righteous, no not one" ( Romans 3:10) 

B= Believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty of sin. " While we were yet sinners Christ died for us ( Romans 5:8)

C= Confess with your mouth that He is now your Lord and Savior. " For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."  Romans 10:13)

Believing in Jesus means trusting that He died for you and He rose again. It is a relationship not an just head knowledge.  Eternal life means knowing Jesus, it is a personal relationship with God! ( John 17: 3) 

If you have made a decision to follow Christ you can pray something like this: 

Dear Lord, I admit that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died on Calvary's cross to pay the debt that I owe but can never pay, no matter how many good works I do. His blood paid the price and by His blood I am redeemed. I am no longer bound for hell, but will spend eternity in heaven. I am now free to serve and love you Lord! Thank you for the free gift of salvation. As a child of God, mercy and goodness will follow me all the days of my life! 

Amen!