Water Walkers Pt 2

A saying about churches in America today (and about Jesus’ followers), are that they are a “mile wide and in inch deep.” We have a lot going on, programs that every person can get involved in, services that rival some of the best concerts in the city, but when it comes to following Jesus, knowing God with all of our hearts, we are very shallow and very childish in how we follow God in our lives. We make excuses as to why we can’t step in the water deeper, why we just want to play in the shallow end of the spiritual pool instead of venturing out into the deep end of following Jesus. Out where Peter found himself, crying out for the only person that could save him. Peter was out there, far enough away from the boat and his friends that could have reached out and helped him back in the boat. Or where he could swam back to it with a few powerful strokes. He was out where only Jesus could help. And I believe that’s exactly where Jesus wanted him to be. He wanted him to learn that you could walk on water, but you have to get out of the boat, get away from the shallow end of church life and come on out to where only Jesus’ hand lifting you up can give you what you need. I like to imagine what the walk back to the boat was like. We know that Jesus gave him a gentle rebuke of why you didn’t believe, but after that, what was it like. Peter was again walking on water, but this time on the arm of Jesus. I would have asked Jesus, “Let’s walk around the boat a couple of times, let circle them.” I certainly don’t know what happened out there or what was said, but the picture was plain and simple – “it’s safer out here, in the storm with Jesus, than it is in that boat.” It’s time to get out of the boat and walk on water with Jesus. Let’s get deeper and go all the way with Jesus.