If Jesus Asks You To Do It, You Can Do It.
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, help me keep my eyes on you. Keep my eyes fixed on your presence, your power, your plan, and your purpose. Amen.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there all alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from the land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong winds and the waves, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV)
REFLECT:
Recently, before this text in Matthew, Jesus had been rejected by the people of Nazareth. This was his hometown, yet he had been totally rejected! Matthew also tells us that Herod, the Kind of Israel, had John the Baptist, his cousin, beheaded. He was also being followed by many who were demanding that he heal their sick, and he had just fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. Jesus was exhausted and wanted to get away, to regroup, to be by himself to pray. He sends the disciples on ahead to do just that.
The disciples find themselves all alone, at night, in a boat, in the middle of a storm. Not only were they probably wondering what was happening with their leader, now they were clinging to the side of a boat for dear life. As Peter is clutching to the tempest tossed boat, thinking his resources, except for the boat, were few if any until he sees Jesus. He knows in his heart of hearts that Jesus is all he needs. He calls out to Jesus. Then Peter, with a trusting heart, hears the call of Jesus to come.
APPLY:
One lesson we can learn from this passage is that if Jesus asks you to do it, you can do it. This is where we can often get into trouble. We all have plans. We will work up ideas and strategies and then set out into our lives doing all we can to find a successful completion and satisfaction of those plans. But how many times have you stopped and honestly asked, "God is this your plan? Or am I just trying to do things in my own power and hope that you bless my efforts?"
This is a difficult thing to discern and complex to navigate. Yet it is important, that no matter what our plans, we strive to understand when God is calling in our lives. There is a distinct difference between being driven and being led. If you are driven to do something, you are the one driving the boat and you will sink like a rock. But if you are being led by God, then he is pulling you into his plan and it will keep you afloat.
Plans for our generosity, given from the resources God has blessed us with, can also be discerned and evaluated using these same questions. Our resources include our gifts, talents, our time and finances. Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat and he listened with a trusting heart. Can you do the same and hear Gods call for the generosity of your resources? If Jesus calls you to make a first step, then he will provide a path for each step toward him after that. In listening to Jesus call with a trusting heart, you will have opportunity to be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.
Where is Jesus calling you in your faith journey to listen and hear?
If Jesus asks you to do it, you can do it.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, through your holy spirit teach me to hear and trust your direction. Help me to have confidence in your plan. Turn my life into a powerful demonstration of what trust in God looks like. Amen.