Thursday Reading: Matthew 14:24-33
Key Verse: Matthew 14:28
28 And Peter answered Him and said, LORD, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water.
Devotion:
When we are feeling weak we like others to be able to tell us what to do or at least to be able to guide us in the right direction – that is just the way we are. There is nothing wrong with that either despite what people will try to tell you about putting on a brave face or making sure that you remain strong. Christ wants each of us to come to the point where we do realise that we do need His help so that we can ask for it. He wants us to realise that we do need Him, not just when the times are rough and we are down but even when we feel like we are on top of everything!
The disciples were probably not feeling too comfortable out on the sea being tossed about in the wind and when they saw something walking on the water towards them they did not think of it as being Jesus but rather some sort of spirit or ghost. That really got them going until Jesus cried out to them that it was actually Him. Then they felt brave again! Peter felt so brave and lifted up that he thought that if Jesus would call him out onto the water then he might be able to walk on it too. It was a good plan at the time but when it came time to execute that plan Peter suddenly found out that he was not quite as strong as he thought he was.
When we look at the world around us we fear all that is around us because we think we know the damage that it can all do. We give in to those fears and we allow ourselves to sink in that fear and dread. Peter took one look at what the wind was doing to the water and he suddenly gave in to the ways of the world and started to sink. Christ reached out immediately and saved him – but Peter was the one to give in to the world.
You may think of that as a bit harsh me saying that Peter gave in, but that is what we do in the world around us. We give in to the ways of the world instead of sticking with God’s ways. That is the only thing that makes us weak. God is strong enough to support us all, if only we would fully rely on God!
Points to Ponder:
What do you rely on most in your life?
How much do you give to God?
