Devotional for Saturday, December 30, 2017
“When God Calls Us To the Impossible”
by Dona Hake
We serve a God that wants to keep our hearts challenged to live by faith. He longs that we obey His voice, and look for opportunities for Him to take impossibilities and make them possible. We must dare to step out and serve Him even when it looks to us like we cannot do it. Today we will look at a wonderful account of Jesus doing the supernatural and inviting one of His disciples to join Him.
The disciples were in their boat, and Jesus had told them to head to the other side because He planned to meet up with them later. Jesus was spending time in prayer as He desired to be alone with His Heavenly Father. Matthew’s account of the story is as follows:
Matthew 14:25-31 (Easy to Read Version)
“Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus’ followers were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water. When they saw him walking on the water, it scared them.
“Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus’ followers were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water. When they saw him walking on the water, it scared them.
“It’s a ghost!” they said,screaming in fear.
But Jesus quickly spoke to them. He said, “Don’t worry!
It’s me! Don’t be afraid.” Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
It’s me! Don’t be afraid.” Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus said, “Come, Peter.” Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But while Peter was walking on the
water, he saw the wind and the waves. He was afraid and began sinking into the water. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”
water, he saw the wind and the waves. He was afraid and began sinking into the water. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”
Then Jesus caught Peter with his
hand. He said, “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?”
hand. He said, “Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?”
I think there are so many lessons to learn from this portion of scripture. Peter always seems to be remembered for being the dear old soul that was always sticking his foot in his mouth. Isn’t it interesting that it was the disciples that were frightened as they saw someone on the water walking towards them, but Peter was the eager, inquisitive one. When he asked, “Lord, IF that’s you…tell me to come.” Peter was at least willing to get out of the boat. I will emphasize the following words “But while Peter was walking on the water…” Let us be reminded here that Peter was doing the exact same miracle that Jesus was. Many read this story, and always emphasize his lack of faith, and doubting.
Even if it was only a few steps, I always think about the faith that was in Peter’s heart that caused him to try, and reach the Lord by way of the impossible. I find it interesting as well that he was that close to Jesus when he began to sink, and all Jesus had to do was reach out and grab his hand. Really, Peter was almost there. Victory was so close.
Peter was walking in the miracle yet it was his reasoning that made him sink. Think about it…Peter was on top of the water bypassing all laws of nature. I can only imagine how wonderful and awesome those few seconds of his faith were. Peter just simply permitted his reasoning to challenge and pull down his faith.
There may be times that we are only an arm’s reach away from victory and circumstances seem to distract us. Many times it is when we are closest to victory that the devil will try to distract us with the wind and waves of this life. The devil loves to tempt us to reason away the Word of God on which we are standing. Think about it…simple reasoning of what Peter’s eye’s saw and what his ear’s heard caused him to begin to go down. I will leave you with this scripture:
Proverbs 3:5 (NASB)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.”
As we all enter this New Year we just never know the challenges that the Lord is going to set before us. I encourage your heart to accept the challenges that the Lord sets before you, and step out of your comfort zone, and walk toward Him with unwavering faith! …and lean not on your own understanding!