Tuesday September 17

Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:28-29

Peter and His Lord (2)—Walking on the Water (B)

The disciples had a rough night on the lake, a strong wind had blown in and it was stormy. Their little boat was being tossed about and they were struggling to make it across. The prophet Jonah was also in a storm at sea, but he was there because he had disobeyed God, in contrast to the disciples who were in the storm because they had obeyed the Lord (Jn. 1:4; Mt. 14:22). Storms can come for our correction, as in the case of Jonah, or for our perfection, as in the case of the disciples. The essence of faith is obedience to the Lord, conversely, disobedience to God’s word always is an indicator of unbelief. Peter was about to model the obedience of faith as well as illustrate what happens when we get our eyes off the Lord.

Peter could sometimes be impulsive but the scene before us was not an act of rash impulse, but of real faith. “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” In answer to Peter’s question, Christ said, “Come.” Faith is expressed by obedience to God’s Word, indeed, faith without action is dead; it is like a “body without the spirit” (Jas. 2:26). In this act Peter showed genuine faith in response to Christ’s word, but it would be tested; faith that is not tested is no faith at all.

It is impossible to walk on water but Peter believed in Christ’s power as the Son of God. How is it for us? Does our situation seem impossible? Has God’s Word nevertheless told us to go forward despite the circumstances? Then let us exercise our faith, let us step out of the boat in response to God’s Word—then we will see what He can do for those who trust in Him.

Brian Reynolds