Matthew 14:28

New International Version (NIV)

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

For Meditation

Most of the time when we remember Peter’s sea-walking experience, we recall the sinking disaster. We focus on the ‘looking away from Jesus’ moment and forget one key lesson from the episode.

Peter didn’t just find himself on the water. There were the other disciples in the same boat with him. They all saw the figure walking on the water in the night (Matt. 14:26). They all thought it was a ghost (Mk. 6:49), and were all terrified “and cried out in fear” (26). They all heard the assuring voice of their Master: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (27). But, none of them ventured to do what Peter did. He dared to ask Jesus to bid him come on the water, if it were Him (28).

Peter’s boldness set him apart from the rest of the disciples in their moment of fear. It earned him the sole honor of being the only  human being to have walked  on water. His faith, whichever way you look at it, was extraordinary. At least, Peter had a sense of the Lord’s nature and power at that time more than the others. That’s why he had the guts to ask Jesus for the impossible. Even more commendable was his step of faith from the boat onto the water, walking towards Jesus (29). Because he was bold and courageous to ask, he received extraordinary faith (29) to step out of the boat onto the angry sea.

1. How about you?
2. Can you take courage to dare ask Jesus to step into uncharted territory for His glory?
3. Your situation may be dark as the night Peter walked on the rough sea (24-25); but do you doubt the ability of Jesus to release enough faith in you to do the unthinkable?
4. Do you think this is old time faith and not realistic in our time? Isn’t Jesus Christ “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8)?
5. Why then should we allow fear of the unknown to cripple us, even when God has given us all the promises and assurances in Christ (Jn. 14:12; 11:40; 16:23-24; 17:11; Heb. 13:5-6,)?

I pray you will be bold in your prayers to dare ask God for the impossible in Jesus’ name. Although His sovereign will determines what He grants; one day you might kick yourself for not asking. That was Peter’s example in boldness for us to emulate.

So: May you never be held back from being audacious before the One who has told you to ask the Father for anything in His name; and may Jesus honor His name in your situation so  that you can shout: The Lord – He is God! Jesus – He is God!

Faith is boldness in the Spirit to ask and do according to His will.

Shalom