Saturday, July 15, 2006

Let's get out of the boat-NOW

There is a really good story in Matthew's gospel (Matthew 14:9)about Jesus walking on water. Jesus told the disciples to go out in the boat...straight into a storm that is brewing, to go to the other side of the lake.

The boat is tossing and turning in the waves. Let's pause and understand the eloquence here: Jesus told them to get into the boat, out into the storm and wait for him...I love this! The disciples are afraid and Jesus walks out to the disciples and they think it is a ghost. Jesus tells them "take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Peter calls out to Jesus and says "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water."

Jesus says one word: "Come"

I love that Peter is the only one that gets out of the boat. Jesus bids him "come" and he gets out - and does what no other human being in history does - walks on water.

Why am I so afraid to do something courageous?

  • quit my job even though "society" says it's crazy
  • start a microlending firm
  • love people
  • feed poor people
  • live in community
  • change the world

Jesus is outside the boats we live in - asking us to "come" and I want to be like Peter and jump in! I want to trust Jesus enough to do crazy things like walking on water or quitting my job, on faith that there is more to Jesus than what I know now.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps we still look to getting out of the boat - and want so desperately to do those big things- but why can't we start with the little things - like help row the boat, or help pay for the boat, or help patch a hole in the boat. We wait for the courgage to actually get out of the boat and walk on water - or perhaps we never have even embarked on getting of the shore and into the boat at the request of our God?

Red Letter girl said...

I think we're all at different spots within the "boat" of our lives. I think some of us are tired of rowing, paying, patching...and want to get out.

I think wherever you are - we can start with that.


About Me

I work at a Christian School district only 4 miles from my home. The people there are full of grace and love and I am glad to be a part of this ministry. I have a neice and nephew whom I love dearly. They are 12 and almost 15 respectively. I have two amazing sisters and two amazing brothers-in-law. Of course, I would not be here if it were not for my mother agreeing to marry my dad. Good going mom! My parents are my life and I would literally be NOTHING without their unconditional love, support and care. You rock mom and dad. Then there's Will & Lora...their giggles are like sunshine and their parents crack me up too.

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