May 26, 2010 Chapter 24
Dear Friends,
Its been a long time that ive been thinking dwelling on peace and im still thinking about it.
Its in these times of turmoil in my life that i tend to have the most revelations about the nature and character of God. His love, the joy that he gives, his strength, his grace and all of the different facets of each of these.
But my latest revelation (luckily) has to do with PEACE.
I’ve been through a topsy turvy time lately and i’m one of those people who can let their problems overwhelm them and i have been reminded of the time when Peter walks on the water.
This story is a Miracle! Not for Jesus, it wasnt miraculous that Jesus, the king of kings, creator of the universe, could walk on the water. The fact that anyone was surprises was a bit silly if you think about it. The miracle is Peter. Peter was just a common man, with common thoughts and common issues. He was nothing particularly special but he did something special.
So after the feeding of the 5000 Jesus sends his disciples across the lake in a boat and goes and has some alone time. So here are the disciples hanging out in a boat having a few laughs and relaxing after a big day, travelling to the other side of the lake completely oblivious to the encounter thats about to take place. The boat travels out and the waves start to toss the boat and once they reach the middle of the lake Jesus comes out the meet the disciples walking on the water. The disciples seeing this yell out in fear and believe that they have seen a ghost but Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid, it is I”. Peter, the only one of the 12 brave enough to answer, says, “IF it is you, command me to come to you on the water”. Jesus, being unable to deny himself, said, “come”. So Peter climbs out of this giant fishing boat, turns his eyes to Jesus and begins to walk on the water. Peter! The common man, walks on the water! There is a miracle!
But when Peter turns his gaze off Jesus and on to the waves crashing all around them and he immediately begins to sink. Jesus reaches down and picks peter up and says, “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
I really do love this storage because it shows you where you can find peace.
Jesus is calling us all out of our boats and out of our comfort zones, to walk on the water WITH him. He wants us to walk with him and keep our eyes fixed on him. The second that we turn our gaze away and focus on the waves we immediately we begin to sink.
“But God Dont you see that Billl that has appeared?”
“But God are you unaware of my family situation?”
“Are you oblivious to my school grades and attendance?”
We think that we need to focus on the waves and calm them ourselves. We still need to acknowledge them but keeping our eyes on him.
“God I know these things are around me but God, I am trusting you and having faith that you will look after me and not let me drown”
That is where we find peace. peace in knowing that God will look after us.
And peace will overflow into the rest of our life. It says in the word, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and i believe that its not just our words but our actions and out attitudes. If we have peace in our heart, we will have peace on others.
So waves or Jesus? Where is your gaze resting?
S.
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