"Get out of the boat"

You probably remember the occasion when Jesus walked on the water and approached the boat where the apostles were. Upon seeing Jesus they were afraid, assuming it must be a ghost. At some point Peter said, "Lord if it's really you, command me to come walk on the water." Jesus told him to come and Peter got out of the boat and started toward Jesus. You also remember that as Peter looked around at the waves and the wind he began to sink and cried out for help. Jesus took his hand and saved him. But today I want us to think about Jesus command to get out of the boat.

Peter had lots of reasons NOT to obey Jesus--we all know men can't walk on water, it was really stormy, maybe it wasn't Jesus at all, etc. But Peter was willing to get out of the boat and begin walking on the water--it didn't last all that long, but at least he got out of the boat. Frequently the point made is Peter's lack of faith, but obviously Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat. No, I think the problem was when he took his eyes of Jesus, not his lack of faith. But what about you?

When the Lord tells you to do something you find difficult, or that seems impossible, what is your reaction? Do you start listing all the reasons you can't or do you get out of the boat? Some years ago we moved our family to St. Croix almost blindly. We made a number of mistakes in the moving process and stumbled our way through what little we did. We did it on a shoestring because the amount needed was so large. We could have given all the reasons not to leave Texas but we got out of the boat and the Lord took care of us. You can do the same--"if God be for us, who can be against us?" He also says, "The cattle on a 1000 hills are mine"--do you really think He can't provide the money you need to do His work?

Are you willing to get out of the boat?

Tol