What does it take for you to get out of the boat?
Last week I began this Praying the Scriptures for Your Biz challenge and it’s renewed a fire in me. I’ve been thinking a lot about Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14, mostly because that’s how I feel with this new business venture I’m doing.
What really stands out in the story of Peter walking on water is how Peter asked, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to you on the water.”
Isn’t that just like us? Something comes our way in the form of an opportunity and we want reassurance that it’s God. We ask Him to confirm to us it’s really Him.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this. It’s wise to ask for wisdom and clarity and not make emotion-based life choices. But notice how Jesus responded:
“Come,” He said.
Just one word.
Wait, what? Where’s all the re-assurance, the reasons why Peter should trust Him, the rehearsing of His character and ability, the belaboring over His divinity, the convincing?
It’s just not there. Peter is showing us what it really means to abide in Christ!
If it were me, I’d be saying, “Wait. Did I hear You correctly? These waves are awfully loud crashing around out here. Can you say that again? I just want to be sure because I’m about to do something really stupid otherwise.”
But Peter said none of that. Scripture says, “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”
In response to a single word he may or may not have heard clearly.
This raises an extremely important question that I’ve been asking myself all week. I’ll ask it of you too:
How much does it take for you to get out of the boat?
Do you move at a single word?
Risk taking isn’t easy and it certainly doesn’t humanly make sense.
However, our faith is seldom built by staying in the boat.
So perhaps instead of requiring lots of reassurance and convincing before we ever take action, maybe we should just… act.
I believe Jesus intentionally gave a one word response just to see if Peter would exercise his faith and take the first step.
Peter did; our man came through. Can the same be said of you?
What step of faith is Jesus looking for you to take to satiate your glory hunger? Are you waiting for copious amounts of reassurance, convincing, or prodding? Or will you respond to the still small voice simply saying, “Come?”
I’m on the waters with this new biz right now, guys, and it’s CRAZY scary and CRAZY exciting. I’m learning all over again that with God, there truly is no such thing as impossible.
So friend, take the step. Do the hard thing. Walk on water with Jesus.
