Walking On WaterSample

Stepping Out

The end of the passage that we started considering is well known. Peter, walking on the water, takes his eyes from Jesus and begins to sink. As he rescues Peter, Jesus says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31). When you read that, what tone of voice do you think Jesus used? The answer that you instinctively give probably says a lot about the image of God that most defines your relationship with him. If you hear a rebuke in Jesus' voice, you are far less likely to take risks in the future, for fear that you would only reveal the inadequacy of your faith. I've come to believe, however, that Jesus was pleased that Peter had joined him on the water. Jesus' words in verse 31 are, I think, an affectionate encouragement for Peter to have greater faith in the future.

The only way to walk on water is to begin by stepping out of the boat, but don’t expect it to be straightforward. The disciples didn't get it right first time, and nor will we. Even seeing where he is at work so that we can join in doesn't come naturally. We have to learn how to receive, understand, test and respond to revelation, being taught by the Spirit and led into a supernatural lifestyle. The way we grow is through taking small steps and gradually increasing in faith. This is what Jesus meant when he spoke about being "faithful in the little things" in order to be entrusted with "greater things" (Matthew 25:21).

As we go on, our progress in that adventure will depend on the extent to which we allow him to deal with the barriers of head and heart with which we struggle. Sustaining a healthy, life-long, Spirit-filled discipleship that continues to bear fruit requires us also to cooperate with the renewal of our minds and the restoration of our hearts. We can't take the outward journey of ministry and fruitfulness without the inward journey of healing and transformation. If we're serious about following Jesus, then we shouldn't settle for an impaired experience of being his disciples. He wants us all to know the joy of walking with him in things that once seemed impossible to us. This joy is so great that we must not let pride prevent us from cooperating. We will probably need to ask others for help. We will almost certainly falter and get wet hair from time to time. But ultimately, it will all be worth it to be with Jesus.