Heroes, or Witnesses of FaithSample

Peter

“He [Jesus] said: Come! Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus” (Matthew 14:29).

In the Bible, Peter often comes across as an energetic man who does not shy away from a challenge. At Jesus' word, he steps down from the boat during a heavy storm and walks on the water just like Jesus did. However, the moment he focuses more on the waves instead of on Jesus, he needs Jesus' strong hand to keep from drowning. The evening before Jesus' suffering and death, Peter sincerely and passionately promised to give his life for Jesus. But in the heat of the moment, he fled and denied just as passionately that he was a follower of Jesus. This Peter, after Jesus' return to heaven, became the leader of the newly formed Christian church. The power in Peter's life turned out to be the power of Jesus, who, with his outstretched hand, pulled Peter out of the waves of doubt and failure.

Jesus does not call heroes those who are convinced of their own abilities. Jesus calls people who are willing to let His powerful love flow through them and thus become a blessing to others.

What do you do when confronted with your own weakness or inadequacy when you try to follow Jesus? What does Jesus mean to you in moments like that?