Steppin' Out

In case you were wondering, I am still going strong on my Bible in a Year study. So far I have gotten all the way through Genesis and part of Exodus, 27 chapters of Psalms, 6 chapters of Proverbs and most of Matthew. Pretty much everything I have read so far, I have read before, but God has really been speaking to me through these familiar passages.

One day a couple weeks ago I ran into Matthew 14, and I discovered I absolutely love this chapter! So it starts with John the Baptist's death. Sad day right? Yeah, it is, John was a great man, and he was martyred as a result of his faithfulness, and when Jesus heard about it, He reacted like you or I would. He withdrew in a boat to a secluded place, by Himself. Jesus knew from the beginning of time exactly how John's life would play out. Jesus knew when John was imprisoned by Herod, that he would never be free again, but that didn't matter. Jesus loved John, and when he died, Jesus was sad, He mourned. He had to go spend some time, out on the water, all by Himself, talking to His Dad, figuring stuff out. I love that Jesus loves, that He is emotional, that He knows what life is really like.

So, then Jesus goes back to the public, He can't hide forever, life doesn't stop even when we want it to. He goes back to shore and sees the people waiting for Him, and another emotion, compassion. Jesus overcame His own sadness and loves on the people who follow Him, He spends the day with them healing and teaching! Then, when they are hungry, enter AMAZING miracle. Jesus feeds over 5000 thousand people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. How sweet would it have been to just be there, like what does that even look like?!?! Imagine, your a disciple and Jesus looks at you when you ask Him to send the people away to get food "You give them something to eat!" He says. So you roll your eyes and start handing out the food that is meant to feed one family but it doesn't run out. You keep breaking off pieces of bread and there is always more, I mean, just think about that for a second, really think about, I hope you love that thought, cuz I do, and we're only like halfway through the chapter!

Once everyone is satisfied with their dinner and Jesus has healed everyone in the crowd, He sends the disciples ahead of Him. He finishes His last goodbyes with the crowd, I imagine it would take a while for some people to finally leave Jesus presence, and then goes again to spend some time in solitude with His Father. Its been a long a day, He's exhausted, and once He's spent most of the night in prayer getting filled up, He goes to find His men. By goes to find them, I mean He walks out to the boat that is in the middle of the storm, and this is my favorite part.

The disciples see a man walking on the water, instead of thinking the Son of God is coming to meet them, they jump to ghost. How often do I respond like that? I'm so terrified by what God is bringing into my life that I miss the fact that it is in fact God bringing something new into my life and not Satan tormenting me.

Jesus knows what they are thinking, He knows what His men need to hear, He can see the doubt in their faces, maybe even read it in their thoughts, "Don't be afraid, be courageous, it's Me." Now here comes the beauty, Peter hears it and he longs serve his Lord, "Jesus, I'm Yours, use me, tell me to join You!" Just what Jesus was looking for, He knows Peter is ready for this and responds with one word, "Come!" An invitation so simple, so appealing. Jesus doesn't need to explain Himself or tell Peter anything else, just "Come!" Peter just steps out of the boat, and walks toward Jesus.

BUT, oh man what a big but, but Peter gets overwhelmed, he was doing so well, having faith, going where no man has gone before, literally, but then he lets himself be distracted by the waves. He takes his gaze off Christ and begins to sink. When I read this, the first thing that came to mind was the movie Runaway Bride, you know when Maggie is walking down the aisle, everything is great, but then the groom turns to talk to the preacher or just for a second he blinks in reaction to a camera flash and everything goes down hill, that eye contact is broken and all faith is lost. Peter knew Christ would never let him down, but the waves were so big, the wind so loud he lost faith and began to sink, there is only one reaction ""Lord, save me!" He cries out to his King and there is no hesitation from Jesus, immediately He stretched out His hand and took hold of Peter. Jesus brings him to safety and asks "Why did you doubt?" that's it, no scolding just, "Peter, you know I love you, I would never let anything happen to you, why didn't you trust me?" As they step into the boat, the see is calmed and the boat keeps going to the other side of the sea.

I've never been invited to tread on the water with Jesus, but I definitely have been asked to trust Him. Sometimes, its the only thing you ask for, "Jesus let me know you, use me," so He does, He calls to you, "Come! Join me, walk with me." Then you do, and its great, but somehow you let Satan in too, and he distracts you, that perfect eye contact with Christ is broken not because He looked away, He could never take His eyes off you, but you take just a little glance to the left or right and you start to sink. You fight you it, you try to put your feet back under you all by yourself, but the water doesn't firm up and you keep on sinking further into the sea. Then, when your head goes under and there is no other option, you need help or you're done, you cry out to Jesus and He doesn't even hesitate, He reaches out and picks you up, you're safe in His arms He walks you back to the boat, you can see the love in His eyes, "Why did doubt?" There are no words, you don't know what to say, why did you doubt?

This is such a beautiful picture to me. The whole thing, beginning this chapter with Christ's humanity, then hitting the other side of the spectrum with an amazing miracle, and finishing with Jesus being Jesus, demonstrating His love for His faithful. Isn't it great! Jesus wants to use us, He's calling us to service, all it takes is faith. Sometimes, probably more often than not, we're gonna fail. It's true. I'm going to, you will, Peter did. We are going to run out and try to serve Him, and we're gonna fall flat on our faces, we're going to stumble and fall, we're going to sink in the midst of a raging storm, and He knows that, but He's still going to call us. He loves us enough to use us, and He's loves us so much, that He's standing by to catch us when we fall or cheer for us when we don't.

Is Jesus calling you to step out of the boat today?