Matthew 14:29

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22 January, 2022

22

JAN

MATTHEW 14:29

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

TO PONDER

First thoughts? Maybe buoyancy is the ability to walk on water? That would certainly fit the definition to the highest degree possible. ‘Look mum, no hands!’ As soon as we take our hands off the handlebars however, and take our eyes off the target, our world comes to a crashing halt just as it did for Peter. ‘Look at me, I’m walking on water!’ Then the wind, then panic, eyes off Jesus – crash, or perhaps gurgle, gurgle. 

Just prior to this, Jesus had approached the boat, walking on water, saying, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’. The natural response of our egos is to desire the thrill and the personal glory of walking on water, but we are not God and we do not rule over all creation with all power and all authority. Peter did walk on water for a minute, but then the great weight of fear crept in, and he took his eyes off Jesus, the Water Walker, and Peter’s small, personal buoyancy vanished.

Maybe true buoyancy and kingdom building miracle working doesn’t lay in our ability to walk over water toward Jesus, but rather to step into the miraculous with Jesus. Perhaps the clue is in Peter’s words of faith, ‘Lord, save me!’ In these three short words, lay the answer to all the church’s needs and its ability to remain buoyant in a world that seeks to drown us. Save us from our sinfulness. Save us from our broken hearts and minds. Save us for the great things you are doing like saving souls, building your church, expanding your kingdom. 

PRAYER

Give us this day our daily bread, which feeds all your church’s needs. Lord, save us!


Today's devotion provided by David Schuppan, LifeWay Illawarra Site Pastor