The passage in Matthew where Peter is invited to walk on water is a familiar one to most of us. Every time I read it, I put myself in Peter’s place for an instant. Not only physically but metaphorically. Can you imagine walking on the surface of the water to the outstretched hand of Jesus? On so many levels it would have been a monumental moment in not only Peter’s life, but in the rest of the disciples watching.
But….. that was not the only miracle done that day.
He healed the sick, fed the 5,000 +, walked on water, invited Peter to walk on water, and saved him from drowning. Likely one more, calming the winds. All in a day’s work you say? I suppose so if you’re Jesus. But think of the lives that were impacted and the exponential faith that was strengthened by the loving acts of the Creator Jesus. Their health and safety were secure in the hands of the One that brought all into existence.
Do we see miracles like this today? Of course we do, we simply don’t notice them. We hear stories, experience healing, and witness the inexplicable. Yet, we often shrug it off as a coincidence or even worse don’t acknowledge what happened and who was behind it.
I’m reading a book by Allen Arnold entitled The Eden Option. Choosing a Story 1 Life in a Story 2 World. “The Story 1 life isn’t a nice addition to our current life, Arnold suggests. It is an entirely new way of seeing God, ourselves, and this world.”
Quoting C.S. Lewis, “When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.”
We need to run in the opposite direction toward the loving arms of Jesus. Don’t look down at your circumstances. But if you do, know you can reach out toward the One who loves you, died for you, and has more than five miracles waiting for you in the Story 1 life.
Read Matthew 14:13-17, 19-33 in the Good News Translation, just for fun. It’ll be a huge encouragement for you today.
And that’s the Memo.
Steve
“When Jesus heard the news about John, he left there in a boat and went to a lonely place by himself. The people heard about it, and so they left their towns and followed him by land. Jesus got out of the boat, and when he saw the large crowd, his heart was filled with pity for them, and he healed their sick. That evening his disciples came to him and said, “It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves.” “They don’t have to leave,” answered Jesus. “You yourselves give them something to eat!” “All we have here are five loaves and two fish,” they replied. He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over. The number of men who ate was about five thousand, not counting the women and children. Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people away. After sending the people away, he went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone; and by this time the boat was far out in the lake, tossed about by the waves, because the wind was blowing against it. Between three and six o’clock in the morning Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water. When they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and screamed with fear. Jesus spoke to them at once. “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don’t be afraid!” Then Peter spoke up. “Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.” “Come!” answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. “Save me, Lord!” he cried. At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, “What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?” They both got into the boat, and the wind died down. Then the disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus. “Truly you are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.”
Matthew 14:13-17, 19-33 GNTD (emphasis added)
