NT Journey--Matthew 14
Believing is Seeing
There are some stories in scripture that are preached on so much, we almost get tired of hearing them. Someone comes up with a great application and writes a book about it and we think we've exhausted everything there is to learn from a particular story. Yet we read them again and again. If we're not careful, they go in one ear and out the other--or maybe in one eye and out the other if we're reading.
In any case, the story of Jesus walking on the water just might be one of those stories. But here's the lesson for us--even if the story is the same, each time we come back to that story, our lives are different. The things we're wrestling with, struggling with, happy or confused about is different each time we pick up the story and read it. The truth is the same, but our situation is different so our application is different. That's why we'll never in our lives get to the point that we've heard it all before. The point of the story is always the same, how that point relates to us is always changing.
One aspect that stood out to me in this reading of the story of Jesus walking on water is that the most amazing things in life happen when we do something. Matthew (and the rest of the New Testament) is filled with stories about Jesus doing amazing things. In fact, Jesus even gets tired of people asking for a "show" (see Mt 12:38-45). What Jesus wants is not for people to be amazed, but to be motivated.
In this story, Peter is put forth as the model of our response to Jesus. I was never a big Michael Jordan fan. I can certainly appreciate his talent and don't deny that he was probably the greatest basketball player ever. I was continually amazed at the last-second shots he would make to win games and championships. It was really a sight to see. But I can think of something that would be even more amazing for me...if I was the one hitting those shots! What a rush that would be! I've never experienced that and I'm afraid that time has passed me by.
But what we see in this story is the example of someone who's not content just to be amazed. I'm sure all the disciples once they got over their shock and fear were pretty amazed at Jesus walking on the water. But who do you think was most impacted by this event? Of course, it was Peter, because he wasn't just amazed, he got to do something amazing!
Here's the lesson for us. Me might get to see God do some amazing things in our lives by just being a part of the church. Sometimes God just volunteers those things. But if you look in scripture, what you'll find is that the people who believe--and by that I mean believe with their actions--are the ones who really get to see something amazing. It's always the ones who take the step of faith first, who get to see God come through in big ways. Not only did Peter get to see Jesus walk on water, he got to do it himself, but only because he first had faith that Jesus could make it happen. Peter's experience wasn't perfect, but boy did he have a story to tell!
So the obvious application here is--what step of faith do you need to take in order to participate in something amazing? In order to really see the Kingdom of Heaven, we first need to make the commitment to walking through that door. When we do, we begin to see a world we never dreamed of before. What's your faith step?
There are some stories in scripture that are preached on so much, we almost get tired of hearing them. Someone comes up with a great application and writes a book about it and we think we've exhausted everything there is to learn from a particular story. Yet we read them again and again. If we're not careful, they go in one ear and out the other--or maybe in one eye and out the other if we're reading.
In any case, the story of Jesus walking on the water just might be one of those stories. But here's the lesson for us--even if the story is the same, each time we come back to that story, our lives are different. The things we're wrestling with, struggling with, happy or confused about is different each time we pick up the story and read it. The truth is the same, but our situation is different so our application is different. That's why we'll never in our lives get to the point that we've heard it all before. The point of the story is always the same, how that point relates to us is always changing.
One aspect that stood out to me in this reading of the story of Jesus walking on water is that the most amazing things in life happen when we do something. Matthew (and the rest of the New Testament) is filled with stories about Jesus doing amazing things. In fact, Jesus even gets tired of people asking for a "show" (see Mt 12:38-45). What Jesus wants is not for people to be amazed, but to be motivated.
In this story, Peter is put forth as the model of our response to Jesus. I was never a big Michael Jordan fan. I can certainly appreciate his talent and don't deny that he was probably the greatest basketball player ever. I was continually amazed at the last-second shots he would make to win games and championships. It was really a sight to see. But I can think of something that would be even more amazing for me...if I was the one hitting those shots! What a rush that would be! I've never experienced that and I'm afraid that time has passed me by.
But what we see in this story is the example of someone who's not content just to be amazed. I'm sure all the disciples once they got over their shock and fear were pretty amazed at Jesus walking on the water. But who do you think was most impacted by this event? Of course, it was Peter, because he wasn't just amazed, he got to do something amazing!
Here's the lesson for us. Me might get to see God do some amazing things in our lives by just being a part of the church. Sometimes God just volunteers those things. But if you look in scripture, what you'll find is that the people who believe--and by that I mean believe with their actions--are the ones who really get to see something amazing. It's always the ones who take the step of faith first, who get to see God come through in big ways. Not only did Peter get to see Jesus walk on water, he got to do it himself, but only because he first had faith that Jesus could make it happen. Peter's experience wasn't perfect, but boy did he have a story to tell!
So the obvious application here is--what step of faith do you need to take in order to participate in something amazing? In order to really see the Kingdom of Heaven, we first need to make the commitment to walking through that door. When we do, we begin to see a world we never dreamed of before. What's your faith step?
Labels: faith, Jesus, Matthew 14, New Testament, Peter, walking on water
posted by Kory at
2:13 PM
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