He is Calling...

He is calling...

Danielle Joyner Kelley

March 24, 2009

"But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!." Matthew 14:30

This one is long - but important.

Reading the Bible when I was younger, I would read all these stories and think, "So, people are walking on water? How is that applicable to me today?". My Pastor explained the story of this scripture during one sermon and I felt the light bulb go off - or what we call a true "Ah Ha" moment.

This scripture comes from the story of Peter walking on water to get to Jesus. Peter was one of Jesus's disciples. Without getting too deep, and most know this, disciples were the closest followers of Jesus who he trained to spread God's word.

The story starts with Jesus walking on the water at night. The disciples were afraid when they saw Him doing this and cried out that it was a "ghost". Immediately, Jesus said to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Peter went further however, and said to Jesus, "Lord, if it's you", "tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus then said to Peter, "Come". Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the water towards Jesus. Then the scripture above tells us that he saw the wind, became afraid, began to sink into the water and called out for Jesus to save him.

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him saying, "You of little faith,", "why did you doubt?".

This story used to make absolutely NO sense to me. I thought it was a story that was pretty extreme, I mean who walks on water? That would be something Satan would like me to believe so I would discount the meaning behind the story. But it is not extreme at all - it is a story of true faith.

So often we ask God for things and think He does not answer. What we keep forgetting is that He sees the big picture. The Bible tells us "...My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. " Isaiah 55:8-9. What this means then? Simply put, He knows what He is doing, so you don't always get your way when He knows what you are asking for won't help better you in the long run. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours because we are human and can't see past right now - He sees the entire future for all eternity, and is looking out for you on something you have yet to encounter. He is the creator of all the universe. If you are asking for a sports car and don't get it and keep praying for it anyway, and He knows that sports car will cause you to be in a horrible wreck two years from now, guess what? My simple southern answer to that one - then you ain't getting it - thank Him for your minivan instead. You have to trust, as bad as things can be, that He has the best interest of you and those you love at heart.

God is trying to call us to do good things though. And all to often we don't listen to Him, yet we think it is Him not listening to us. When God calls us to do something we become full of excuses. We try to convince Him that we cannot do it for this or that reason. Note to self - God can see through all your excuses - stop trying to fool Him. He wants you to trust in Him to help you get past whatever you are saying you cannot do. For example, say He calls you to keep children in Sunday School, and you tell Him that you don't like kids, you have a short fuse, and the parents will hate you and come beat you up. He is asking you to do it anyway, and you get frustrated. You are supposed to do it and trust that he will lengthen your fuse.

Wait for His call. Peter didn't just get out of the boat. He asked Jesus to invite Him out of the boat, to which Jesus said "Come". The key is God has to call us to do something. And you have to examine whether He is calling you do do it or whether it is just something you want to do. He will help you walk on the water, but it has to be something He wants you to do, "his will" is what the Bible calls it. This means you don't get to go by a lotto ticket and then get disappointed when you lose because you trusted in Him and felt like you were out of the boat doing something with faith in mind. He has to call you first. Peter knew that which is why he asked Jesus to tell him to come to Him. That is why Jesus said, "Come".

How do you do this? This story shows you it takes faith to stay on the water and with little faith you will sink. When focusing on and trusting in Jesus, Peter was walking on the water. When he became afraid because of the wind and lost that focus and trust, he started to sink. Jesus called it for what it was at that precise moment, "You of little faith,", "why did you doubt?".

You have to trust in Him with that strong, blind faith. That means don't doubt, don't ask questions, just get out of the boat and do it! You need a faithful, trusting relationship with God.

One of the biggest things that Jesus did was to discuss the need for a relationship with God. When Jesus was on Earth, He would give sermons and talk to many people about this issue. One problem He addressed was the way people were teaching others about God's law, referring to the Old Testament (before His time). Back then the term "Christian" was not used because Jesus had not died yet. People were Jewish, and some of those would later become the modern day Christians after Jesus died on the cross. Jesus watched people practicing God's law, but not in full. They would give their spices (like we give offerings at church), and Jesus would acknowledge that, and then tell them there was something big they were missing. The Bible tells us that He said to them, "You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Matthew 23:23. In essence it would be like us just showing up at church today just to do it and giving money to the church just to do it thinking we look good to God. But He wants more than that. He wants you, and not part of you - ALL of you.

Jesus knew it took faith to accomplish great things and He wanted people to learn about that, not just what you are to recite in the church or give to the church, but actually how to have faith to have a relationship with God. Jesus wanted us to have that relationship and it took faith, it takes trust. You have to be able to trust in God.

I remember my Pastor talking to us in membership class about having faith in God. He stood behind a chair and threw is wallet into it, his keys, and some other items, and said something along the lines of he was giving God his finances (wallet), his travels (keys), and other things. Then he illustrated what God really wants. He wants YOU. Put your wallet in your pocket, put your keys and everything else back in your pocket. Sit in the chair with your feet up off the ground. That is what God truly wants - ALL OF YOU. Stop giving him some things and keeping the rest to fix yourself - you can't. You will kill yourself trying.

And know this - your best interests are in mind always with Him. Some days, even with faith, will be better than others. Some days you will feel stronger than you do others. But listen for Him regardless. That nagging at your heart telling you to do something is the Holy Spirit within you trying to let you do what God wants. Stop making excuses and get out of the boat. Don't worry about the wind when your eyes are focused on Him. He created all things and will subdue them to have you do "His will".

I can only imagine Peter stepping out of that boat, trembling, and walking towards Jesus. With Jesus in sight He was fine. Once he looked at the wind here on earth he lost his focus. Don't let the things of this world distract you from what God wants for you. That is when you sink. As everyone always says, "Keep your eye on the prize." And you don't need anything but Him to accomplish any thing in this world. I am sure Peter would have loved to have a jet ski or an inner tube. But it doesn't work like that with real faith. You have to be willing to put yourself, and all of yourself, out there.

And if you fall or stumble, know this - He will catch you. You can start over. Be proud of yourself for trying - He is. Love Him, trust in Him, and know He loves you. Give Him your all and watch your efforts returned a million times over. He will go 10 miles for you for every mile you give Him.

With those kind of odds, you can't lose...