Walking on the water

The third week in the New Year seemed to get off to a most inspiring and encouraging start, as I listened to a teaching from Bishop Charles Mellette of Christian Provision Ministries in Sanford, NC. Taken from a series of teachings entitled “Lord, Do You Have More for Me?” with the subtitle: “God is Bigger,” the message was especially challenging for me, as I think of some of the projects I hope to accomplish during 2018.

The message focused on the account where the Lord Jesus Christ came walking on the water during a fierce storm. Peter recognized the savior and asked that he tell him to come to him. As Peter followed the instructions, he climbed out of the ship and began walking toward the Lord. When he noticed the howling winds and the stormy circumstances, Peter became frightened and began to sink. He cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord spoke these word: “O you of little faith; why did you doubt?” Jesus responds to Peter’s call and helps the fearful disciple. Hand in hand, they both walk back to the ship.

Bishop Mellette emphasized that “God is bigger,” and He has greater goals for us to accomplish. He encouraged us not to be afraid to go after every good thing God has put in our hearts to pursue. He went on to say: “It is time to step up and step out because confidence looks good on us,” noting confidence is a fragrance everybody needs to smell. His remarks caused me to think of 2 Corinthians 2:14 (Amplified Bible):

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,

This record of Peter’s bold accomplishment under seemingly impossible circumstances, brings to mind one of the poems written following a series of storms that arose after the nation experienced the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and subsequent storms. This particular work is inspired by the same passage from Matthew 14:

Walking on the Troubled Waters of Life

Matthew 14:22-33

In the fourth watch, long before the sun begins to rise,
A tempest attacks my ship with waves that overwhelm.
My vessel seems abandoned with no one at the helm
When a vision of the Savior appears before my eyes:
Jesus comes walking on the troubled waters of life.
As storms of our times bring conflict, confusion and strife.
May I not be fretful, anxious, cowardly like some,
But like Peter say, “Since you are my Lord, bid me come.”
And step out of the boat to walk on the storm-tossed sea.
While battered by fierce waves, tormented and tossed about,
In the time of my distress I cry out, “Lord, save me!”
He then asks, “O, you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
In the midst of turbulent times, may I “get a grip”
And walk hand in hand with the Master back to the ship.

We conclude with a lively exhortation from the musical group Exodus 4:12: “Get out of the Boat:”

Tags: Get out of the boat, Matthew 14, Matthew 14: 22-33, Walking on water