Good Morning! It is a brand new week with new opportunities and challenges ahead. This morning I want to talk to you about maintaining your focus in turbulent times.
One of my favorite accounts from Scripture is found in the following verses:
Matthew 14:25-33 (NLT)
[25] About three o'clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. [26] When the disciples saw him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. [27] But Jesus spoke to them at once. "It's all right," he said. "I am here! Don't be afraid."
[28] Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water."
[29] "All right, come," Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. [30] But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.
[31] Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed him. "You don't have much faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?" [32] And when they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
[33] Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.
There are so many wonderful truths in this account that we can take to heart and put into practice.
The first thing I want you to see is that even in your deepest darkest hours, Jesus knows where you are. In fact not only does he know where you are…he is right there with you. You may currently be experiencing a time of loneliness, personal crisis or despair. If this describes your situation the words of Christ are for you today: “I am here! Don’t be afraid.”
The second thing I want you to realize is that Jesus is inviting you to join him. Jesus invited Peter to “come.” Think about the nature of this invitation. Jesus was inviting Peter to do the impossible…walk on water. When we join Jesus, when we accept his invitation to “come, He empowers us to accomplish things that we in our own strength could never do.
Sometimes we criticize Peter for his lack of faith, but did you ever notice that he was the only one who got out of the boat? When it was all said and done only Peter got to experience the miracle of walking on water, only Peter could testify of how Jesus pulled him from the waves, and only Peter got to walk hand in hand with Jesus upon the waves.
A critical point for each of us is the issue of focus. Peter was walking on water until he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to watch the waves. When the waves of life come crashing in, they so easily move our focus off of the will of God and onto the crisis itself.
Peter was not sinking until his eyes shifted. In my younger days I was a police officer. Part of my duties was traffic enforcement. Do you know how hard it was for people to drive straight when they were busy watching me in the rearview mirror. People would get their focus onto me and forget about driving straight. The same principal is true. You cannot stay on track with God’s will if you are fixated on your circumstances.
My final thought for you today deals with the most powerful prayer any of us could pray: “Save me, Lord!” Peter’s cry to Jesus was not an eloquent prayer. He did not wax poetic in his cry for help. Peter simply needed the saving power of Jesus right then and right there. This is the same power that is at work when we give up our own self-reliance and selfish ways and cry out to Jesus for salvation. Just as he did with Peter, Jesus is waiting to pull you up out of the wrong choices, sinful attitudes and rebellious nature that you are sinking in. He is ready to respond to your crisis without delay. Cling to him for life.
As you go throughout this week, remember that the problems of life may be over your head, but they are under Jesus’ feet. Ask Him to save you and savor the moment as you walk hand in hand with him, strolling on the tops of the waves.
Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.
Carl
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