"Call to me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. " Jeremiah 33:3

Saturday, September 24, 2011

"Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink." Matthew 14:29-30

I love the disciple Peter, he always seemed bigger than life, when he blew it, it was big but he had a passion for the Lord Jesus that is to be admired. He was the first of all of the disciples to realize who Jesus really was; You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then not long after he rebuked Jesus when Jesus told the disciples what would soon happen to Him. Peter was way out of line rebuking his Master and he was thinking not of God's purposes but his own. Jesus strongly rebuked Peter and said "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the things of Man. There are so many wonderful stories of Peter and the Lord and so many life applications for all of us. Is my mind set on the purposes of man or God?

One passage in scripture I have always treasured because of what it reveals about the Lord Jesus in His dealings with Peter and by application we who believe and follow Him today, in 2011. Just before the Lord went to the Garden of Gethsemane on the night He was arrested he said to Peter; "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; And when you have turned again strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31. Simon aka Peter responded that he was willing to go to prison with Jesus and even to death to which Jesus responded; before the rooster crows you will have denied even knowing Me three times. Which Peter did. Look again at what Jesus said to Peter, knowing what would happen, He told Peter I have prayed for you. He didn't pray that Peter wouldn't sin, He prayed that Peter would not lose his faith for Jesus knew how Peter would feel after he denied Him. He is more concerned with our faith, our repentance, (turning) and that we get on with the ministry or purpose that Jesus has called us to, (strengthen your brothers). God forgave Peter before he sinned, and He didn't change His plan for him He prayed for him and that is the way He deals with us! Jesus forgave our sins on the cross, His plan for our lives has never changed, and He intercedes for us that our faith may not fail! There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Hallelujah!

The night that Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee all of the disciples saw Him, yet Peter alone asked Jesus to bid him come to which Jesus replied; Come. Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus but then he looked at the waves and the wind and terrified he began to sink, he cried out; Lord, save me! And Jesus stretched out His hand and pulled Peter up. Again so many life applications for believers today, Peter walked on water, the others stayed in the boat, we too need to get out of our safety zone, get out of the boat. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the storm and immediately the fear caused him to doubt and go under. When we are in a storm we can choose to keep our eyes locked on Jesus and walk on top of our storm or we can focus on the storm, lose sight of the Lord and go under, the choice is ours. Peter cried out to Jesus, he didn't cry out to his buddies in the boat and Jesus immediately took hold of him. When you start going under because you have been looking at your storm and not the Lord, cry out to Him, He will hear and He will answer and grab hold of you. Are you in a storm? You can walk on top of your waves, eyes locked on Jesus or if you are going under cry out to Him now and He will pull you to safety!

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