Looking ahead was good. Looking down – not so good. Keep your eyes where they belong!

“Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”

Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said,  “Faint-heart, what got into you?” Matthew 14:30,31 The Message

I love this story of Jesus interacting with his disciples during a terrifying event in their lives. There are so many spiritual applications from one account:

*       if you really want to walk on water … get out of the boat

*       things that terrify us are already under the feet of Jesus

*       Jesus will show up before it’s too late

But at this stage of the story Peter dares the Lord to challenge him. (I like the way this guy lives life.) Jesus takes him up on his dare and shouts out over the roar of the storm, “Come on then!”

What happens next will stay with Peter for the rest of his life. He swings his legs over the side and to the amazement of his fellow disciples plants his feet on the water and stands to his full height, testing not only the solidity of the water, but the strength of his own faith as well.

This is going remarkably well since this is only the second person in history to take this kind of walk.

But then he looked down!

Looking ahead at Jesus had given him confidence. Looking down caused him to lose it.

Where we are looking has an enormous impact on how we live spiritually. Jesus immediately did two things. First, he grabbed Peter’s hand and reestablished eye contact. The he asked the question, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”

Jesus is always concerned about what we are looking at. What we’re looking at is what gets into us!

If we desire faith-filled lives we need to concentrate on what God says … not on what the prognosticating ‘experts’ are saying. Their words are like Jello under our feet. Their words bring no assurance to our hearts but only add to the storm swirling around us.

This week, renew contact with the “Wave Walker” and reestablish eye contact with him. Seeing him clearly and hearing his voice distinctly is vital to spiritual equilibrium. Quit looking down and around. Give him your full attention! 

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it.” Hebrews 12:2 The Message