Call Me Out!
Peter was a blurter. He was spontaneous! No one can argue that he lived life with passion! He often acted before he thought things through. Sure this made him act impulsively and cut off an ear. And. yes, he had to take his big-sized foot out of his mouth over and over again. But he also got to walk on the water. He was deeply loved by Jesus just as he was. Imperfect, passionate Peter.
One of Peter’s stories has challenged me recently. It is found in Matthew 14. My Bible titles it “Jesus Walks on the Water.” I think I would call it, “When Peter Walked on the Water!” You see, I know Jesus as the One who has authority over everything! He can calm the seas and tell the wind to stop. Of course He can walk on water. No surprise there! But Peter? Imperfect and spontaneous Peter?
What really stands out to me this week is not just that Peter had the guts to get out of the boat, but that he ASKED Jesus to call him out of the boat. He was IN the boat–boats float on water! People sink. Yet our imperfect, spontaneous, passionate Peter actually asks Jesus to call him out of his “security” and onto the scary waves.
What would make him do that?
I believe it is because of where his eyes were focused. He was looking at Jesus, not the waves. And he knew Him. Peter knew His VOICE. John tells us that the Shepherd calls His sheep by name and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice. I’m sure in the dark of night, on a windy, choppy lake, Peter couldn’t rely on his vision. But he knew the voice of Jesus.
He also knew the AUTHORITY of Jesus. Jesus is sovereign and all of creation must ultimately obey Him. Peter knew that if Jesus called him out onto the water, he could keep him afloat. Wow! That is powerful faith! I want faith like that!
I like feeling secure–don’t most people? I wouldn’t say I’m a control freak, but I like to know that my world isn’t going to fall apart. I like to know that I am prepared for emergencies. I like knowing that I have a solid foundation to stand upon.
Would I ask Jesus to call me OUT of the boat and ONTO the water?
Honestly, that would not be my first response. My “spontaneous” response would be to hang on tightly to the sides of the boat and call out to Jesus to calm the waters! “Deal with the waters, Lord, not with my lack of trust that you will keep me afloat!”
Do I really let my fears trump my beliefs? I think I have let my fears keep me in the boat wanting God to come to me in the “safeness” and security of the boat rather than asking Him to call me out onto the water believing wholeheartedly that He has His best for me!
I know this about myself, but how do I stop this? How do I live with the passion of Peter that would cause him to climb out of the boat and walk to Jesus? I think it starts with asking Jesus to call me out. Scary! But if I am going to live with passion, I must have courage. Courage to ask Jesus to call me, and courage to obey.
Lord, I’m tired of being tied to my fears. My feelings of security are really only just illusions unless they are in You. I am secure when I am living step by step in obedience to Your call. Call me out, Lord. Tune my ear to hear Your voice. And may I have the courage to obey.
