With all the lakes in Minnesota and such a big one within our reach, have you ever tried walking on water? Someone has suggested it’s good to know where the stepping stones are located but that’s only when such help exists.
These past weeks, I’ve been focusing your attention on the Gospel of Matthew and chapter 14, bringing to light lessons in faith. And we’ve arrived at verse 28 after Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, no, not a ghost, but as one walking on water, which might explain why, His followers were “terrified.” And common sense tells us that, even if we had tried it ourselves, you can’t physically stand on, walk on, or sustain yourself on water unless you have buoyancy or some “flotation device.”
Peter certainly knew that but at the same time, wouldn’t let a good opportunity pass him by. So, with an eye of eagerness, he’s willing to try it, I mean walk on water with the Lord’s granting. So he gets out of the boat and walks—on water! And we know, this is going to be a test of faith.
How often does Jesus, our Lord, tell us to get out of the boat? Why, to follow Him; to be Christ-like, to serve others… to “take up our cross and follow Him.” And reassured by His voice through His Word, we get out of the boat and walk on water… I mean, we take on a risky task that appears larger than life and it becomes our test of faith.
Peter looks at the waves, still robust because the wind is blowing. But then, afraid, he loses it! He begins to sink under his own weight, trusting his instinct to bear him up. But that doesn’t work. Problems enough in the boat, but on the water there’s only a watery grave. “Out of the frying pan into the fire,” you might say. He cries out: “Lord, save me!” (verse 30b)
We, too, learn the meaning of fear when we step out of the boat; reach out to others; take risks for the Lord; testify our faith in Christ; deal with our own health matters…. And with an eye of eagerness, in a self-assuming way, as if we could take the credit, our eyes turn away from Jesus to look at the waves. They appear menacing; too powerful for us to handle. Literally, we sink in want and despair. The doctor says, “Cancer.” Afraid, we cry out: “Lord, save me!”
Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter and saved Him… again.
When they climbed into the boat, the wind died down and the sea became calm. And Jesus said to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (verse 31) And acknowledging Jesus to be the “Son of God,” they traveled on to land where Jesus continued ministering to the people. And Peter, sometime later wrote in his Epistle: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:6.
It’s amazing what a “little faith” can do when placed in the One from God who is faithful to us to save us. He is the Son of God, our crucified and risen Savior, who reaches out to all people to put their faith and trust in Him for life and salvation. Rescued by Him, saved from the threat of eternal death, our spirit endowed faith believes in Christ Jesus and thankfully responds to Him so that we’ll get out of our boat to minister to people who struggle in their faith during the storms of life; in need of Christ alone who is faithful to us to save us.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Dean Rudloff, Life In Christ Lutheran Church (now located at 2017 West Hwy 61, Grand Marais), a church of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
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