LOOK TO JESUS AND NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCES!
LOOK TO JESUS AND NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCES!
But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” —Matthew 14:16-18
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” —Matthew 14:27-31
Do what Jesus says! Trust Him and do not doubt. If the disciples did not trust Him when He told them to bring the loaves and fish to Him, then the multitude would not have eaten out there away from the towns. But the disciples obeyed and “about five thousand men, besides women and children” had something to eat and were satisfied. What is Jesus asking of you? Will you lovingly obey and trust Him?
Even in a storm Jesus invited Peter to come to Him on the water. Peter had said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” And the Lord told Peter to “come.” I always try to picture Peter getting out of the boat. What did that look like when he put his first foot on the water and then the second. But Peter obeyed Jesus and was going to Him out on the water. What a sight. The other disciples must have been utterly astounded at this sight of Peter walking out to Jesus!
But then Peter “saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink…” Fear overrode his faith and he was no longer able to accomplish what Jesus called him to do. “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe” (Proverbs 29:25). Fear of man is a snare, but I would also suggest fear of circumstances can be a snare as well. Peter feared and “beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’” No doubt Peter was going to drown. His doubt was taking him down and it doubt will to us as well. But Peter overcame his doubt and fear and cried out to the Lord to save Him from the drowning situation. The Lord answered and saved Him. But then Jesus said to Peter— “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
That is a good question to us when our Lord asks us to do something or we are in a situation and begin to “sink.” Why the doubt?” Why the little faith?” Why? Peter did not answer… But we do know that his eyes were on the circumstances and his brain’s thoughts overtook his actions and his faith and trust was no longer in Jesus’ Words. This is key! Stick to what God says no matter what! Oh, Dear Father, may I do so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. Yes, so may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U5hHzuN_0A