Midweek Encouragement - "No Boat, Just Jesus”

"No Boat, Just Jesus”

       "’Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

Matthew 14:29 NIV

         I want to share one “duh” fact with you today. Wood floats. Even a child knows that. For thousands of years people have known that. If you build a boat out of wood, it’ll float. That’s why countless generations of humans have been planting trees. To build boats.

         Jesus spent a lot of time in boats with His disciples. He called some fishermen to be His followers. He and the disciples often used boats for transportation. They were very familiar with the way boats rise and fall as they float in the water.

         There was one particular night on a boat, however, that was unlike any other night Jesus and His disciples had ever spent on the water. Jesus had gone off by Himself to pray in the hills above the Sea of Galilee while His disciples took a boat across the still waters of the lake. But soon the stillness became a tempest. The wind and the waves quickly and with little warning became angry.

         And then, the disciples saw it. At first, it looked like a ghost in the middle of the storm.

         But then, Jesus spoke as He walked on the water toward His friends: Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.

         When they heard that, Peter did something very bold. While the other disciples sat in the safety of the boat, Peter asked Jesus if he could come and walk with Him. No lifejacket. No floatation device. Just the sustaining power of the Savior.

         You probably know what happened next. Peter sank. Well, not immediately. He began walking on the water toward the Lord, but then fear gripped him as he considered his surroundings. Immediately, Jesus took hold of Peter’s hand, lifted him out of the water and walked back with him to the boat.

         Bold, impetuous Peter stepped out of the boat, went to Jesus, began to sink, and had to be rescued. The other disciples clung to the boat and simply watched. Let me ask you . . . which is better?

         Would you agree that stepping out in faith is always better than sitting back to watch in relative safety? Be careful as you answer that question.

         I would contend that being deeply rooted in Christ doesn’t mean standing still. Being rooted in Christ, you can boldly go where few have gone before. Sending your roots deeply into Christ, you can boldly go wherever He calls you.

         So go ahead! Venture out! Know that if you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, He’ll empower you to do what you never thought was possible. Why? Because He’ll be right there with you! Go ahead! Move forward into whatever storms life has in store for you. Step out in faith whenever Jesus says to you, “Come!”

Pastor Dale

Pastor Dale (PD) and Pamela his wife are honored to serve the Mt. Laurel Church of God. If this Mid-Week Encouragement has helped you, perhaps it may encourage someone else. Feel free to share this email with anyone you choose. And if for some reason you'd like to stop receiving PD's Mid-Week Encouragement, just send me an email (kingdomguy@gmail.com) and I'll accommodate your request.