We Need Water-walkers

Let’s pray to be “water-walker!” One of the most incredible stories of faith and failure is in Matt. 14. After getting the news that his cousin, John the Baptist had been executed by Herod Antipas, he took his disciples to a remote place. I’m sure to get away to think about all that was happening, to give his disciples a chance to listen to him teach about what was going on, but no. The crowds heard that he was there, and they came to him, to bring their sick so that he might touch them and heal them. After feeding them that evening with five loaves and two fish, Jesus dismisses the crowd and sends his disciples back across the lake, so that he might find a place for some solitude and prayer. That night a storm suddenly comes upon the disciples, and they are rowing and bailing the water out of the boat and very, very fearful that they are all going to die. When along comes Jesus’ walking on the waves of the storm. We know the rest of the story, the disciples are afraid that they are seeing a ghost, but Jesus reassures them that it is he, when Peter blurts out that if it really is Jesus tell him to walk out to him. And Jesus simples tells him to come on out. Peter has the faith to stop out the boat and begin the walking journey of lifetime. Besides Jesus and Peter, no other human being has ever walked on water. Can you imagine all that was going on through his mind? (We all like to talk about his failure and I will here in just a second, but have you ever tried to put yourself into his sandals at this time?) Suddenly, Matthew tells us that Peter looked at the winds and the waves and began to sink. (How did Matthew know unless Peter told him and all the other disciples what was going on.) The reality is this: PETER WALKED ON WATER AND TO WALK ON WATER IT TAKES FAITH. And I’m saying that in today’s world we need some water-walkers to get out of the boat and do some incredible, only God can help miracles. It’s time for us in the storms of this world to proclaim boldly to Jesus and the world that we are willing to get out the boat of comfort and security and start doing some radical things for Jesus. It’s time for us to pray like it all depends upon God and live and act like it all depends upon us. With that combination of faith and action, God can use us to do some great, awesome things. Now, yes Peter failed, but wouldn’t you rather fail out there with Jesus, where your only help is to cry out to Jesus, and you are so far away from the boat of security and safety that it is only Jesus that can come and rescue you? It’s time for the church to get out of the boat. It’s time for us to pray that God will come to us in our storms and take us through the storm by his power. We need water-walkers, will you pray to become one today?