Jul22 Written by:Nathan Williams
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Again, I'm thinking about Peter stepping out of the boat and walking on the boisterous water toward Jesus. As long as his eyes were firmly planted on the Lord, he was okay. As long as he didn't allow himself to get distracted, he was able to do something no human being can do by his own power.
But Peter took his eyes off Jesus. "Seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" (Matt. 14:30). Now Peter's focus was on the wind, on what the wind was doing all around him. In envision the surrounding landscape as a dark, frothing, churning nightmare. There was nothing steady around Peter. There was no place on which he could place a firm step. It was all water. It was wild water. It's easy to see how he might have thought, "What am I doing out here? Did I just do something really stupid? Am I out of my head? I got out of the safe boat and now I'm about to drown!"
Jesus has promised to take care of us when we step out of our safety zones in faith. I think about Adam and Charlie Cooley. They stepped out of their safety zone in having a baby and then making the decision for Charlie to stay home with the little guy. So many choose for both the husband and wife to work in order to "make ends meet." People end up sacrificing vital moments with their children for a few more dollars. If most people really thought about it, they might realize they don't NEED those few extra dollars. In fact, Jesus has promised to help us with our earthly needs if we will seek first the kingdom of God and it's righteousness. That means we should focus on HIM and on the kind of person we ought to be in light of His righteousness. When we get distracted by the things of this world and by society, we start making bad choices. When we focus on Christ, we make choices the WORLD thinks are outrageous and foolish. But we do not live by the world but by the will of our Lord who has called us to a higher calling.
What causes distraction to my faith? My job? My health? My friends? My hobby? My children? Entertainment? Politics of the day? When we take our eyes off Jesus and see the frothing, churning world around us, we can get discouraged and sometimes wonder, "What have I done? Am I living this life backwards? Maybe I'm not storing up enough treasures here on earth - will I be okay later in life?" Satan wants us to rip our eyes away from our Lord and focus on the distractions.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 - "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." We are different than the world. We should be watchful and ready - completely focused on the work of our Lord in His kingdom.
God bless,
Nathan
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