To Walk on Water
To walk on water. Our reaction to these words is a
good measure of where we are with God. It can't be done: Faith and trust are
absent, we stand alone. For Jesus, not me: Faith is present but trust is
lacking, we see God, but in the distance. I can if He calls me: Faith and
trust are present, we walk alongside Him.
To those of the world this phrase refers to accomplishing something that
seems impossible. The effort and intellect used is their own. When it
happens, then they believe. Not so for those who follow Jesus. For us it
means accomplishing something that IS impossible, not through our own effort
or intellect, but through faith and trust in God. We believe, then it
happens.
Once Jesus walked on water toward the disciples' boat. Peter rushed out to
be with Him and soon began to sink. Often we read this as being about
Peter's doubt, but we miss something important. Peter walked on water! When
he focused completely on Jesus, when all he wanted was to be with Him, when
he was filled with faith and trust in his Master...Peter did the impossible!
Others had also crossed that lake and knew Jesus had not sailed with the
disciples. When they found Him, they asked when He had arrived, but Jesus
knew their hearts were not concerned with the impossible.
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal
life, which the Son of Man will give you ... Then they asked Him, "What must
we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, The work of God is
this: to believe in the one He has sent." John 6:27-29
Let God grow your faith and trust in Him. Walk alongside Him. Believe in
Jesus, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
(Ephesians 3:19). And watch Him do the impossible in you.
Chuck Graham
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