[ecko_quote source=" Matthew 14:29-30"]So, Jesus said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”[/ecko_quote]
Many believers will go through life missing divine opportunities because they are afraid to live as God intends. Fear can paralyze us into inaction- then our life fills with lost chances to serve, minister, or see the Lord’s work up close. Consider the 11 disciples who stayed in the boat when Peter got out and walked to Jesus. How many time must each man have regretted choosing safety over the intense joy of stepping on water next to the Son of God?
But Andrew, John, and others missed their opportunity. Unfortunately, many Christians stay in the boat all their lives. At the end, these same folks probably wonder why their lives seemed empty.
We easily succumb to fear’s potency when we attempt to endure trouble in our own strength. We weren’t created to live in such a way. God designed us to function best when we allow Jesus Christ’s divine power to supplant our weakness. As He stood on the surface of the Sea of Galilee, Peter looked around at the fierce wind and remembered that no human can walk on water. His own strength was inadequate to keep him afloat, and he quickly sank. Jesus’ greater power was sufficient to lift Peter from the sea and carry them both safely to the boat.
Fear can paralyze the believer and consequently freeze the Lord’s plan. But responding with faith to God’s directions unleashes divine power and sets His work in motion. The moment that we step out of the boat and move away from the familiar boundaries of our limited strength, we walk by faith.
[Image Source: http://jonah.uec.nz/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/jesus-calms-the-storm-header.jpg
[ecko_quote source="1 Peter 2:5"]Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.[/ecko_quote]
Jesus is not only the Cornerstone of the church; He is also the individual building blocks through every believer. Have you ever heard of someone being a “chip off the old block”? That means he shares the nature of his father. In a sense, every child of God is a chip off that Block.
By ourselves, we are not all that much. How many one-brick buildings have you seen? One stone can be easily tossed around, but if you take a lot of them and put them together, there is the strength. We never ever were going to be any worthwhile or useful for His Kingdom with an attitude of disunity.
The current failure of our higher call (the great commission) is truly attributed to disunity and backbiting. We do several things for God from the pulpit including singing and worshiping but have a grudge and ill feeling towards the brothers and sisters who just standing next to us on the pulpit. Remember our worship won’t reach God and we just simply wasting our precious God-given time and becoming true ACTORS and doing DRAMA day by day and further deceiving ourselves.
Therefore, repent and reconcile before your lamp stand taken away from. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ... Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works (Rev 2:5).
Hard teachings but we should appreciate the truth in it and remember the Word of God will prevail.
Our Lord is building us together to gain strength from one another. It is amazing what can happen when the body of Christ is unified.
[Image Source: https://static.pexels.com/photos/39279/ship-traffic-jams-rope-dew-cordage-39279.jpeg ]
