August 2

Next Door Savior by Max Lucado

"Stormy Places" Matthew 14

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Matthew 14 continues to be a tasty little onion with multiple, juicy layers.  

The last posting looked at how Jesus is the only "I" we require for all our needs, both earthly and eternal.  

When Jesus told the disciples to "Take courage!" (v 27) in the face of the storm, he didn't tell them how he would solve their problems.  He didn't say, "The sea will be calm in a couple of minutes."  Nor did He warn them, "You all gotta' ride this storm out for a few more hours."  

What He did was remind them of who He was.  Sovereign Lord.  The Messiah.  The Alpha and Omega.  So many times in our lives we trust the Lord to solve our problems, provide for our needs and fix what is broken, but we want to know how and when.  Verse 27 is a reminder that while the Lord is faithful and trustworthy, the how and when of His work often times remains a mystery.

Ah, but good ol' Peter.  Not content to wait patiently, to trust quietly.  Loud brash Peter shouting to the Lord, "If it is you."  

Remember the setting.  On a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee in a storm.  This was not a quiet, humble request.  Peter was yelling at Jesus.  Almost ordering the Lord to act.

"Hey, there.  Put up or shut up!"  

"Put your money where you mouth is."

Peter was lucky Jesus did not pull a Jonah on him.  What did Jesus do?  He met Peter's request.  

I would not recommend such a demand of God each time we are waiting on Him to respond to a prayer or intervene in a crisis.  OR. . . Should Christians pray with a greater sense of expectancy and urgency?  Not demand, but assuredness.  Have our prayers become like our witness--milk toast and weak?

Where is the line between confidence and arrogance?  On which side should we err?