Devotion: Spiritual Progress
Please take a moment and read the scripture from this weekend: Matthew 14:31-33
This weekend Pastor Michelle taught on the story of Jesus walking on water. She gave an awesome vision of what the disciples must have been doing and feeling leading up to that moment. I encourage you to go back and listen to it if you didn’t get to hear it.
I grew up going to church every week, and I have heard the story of Jesus walking on water many times. But somehow over the years, I think I’ve changed the title from “Jesus Walks on Water” to “Peter Walks on Water”. I don’t know that it was a conscious decision. I think over time, it was just easier to keep the stories of boats and water straight in my mind by referring to the other characters besides Jesus. But, the whole point of the Bible is to know what Jesus has done for me. And in a nuanced way, I have taken Jesus out as the main character and put someone else in His place.
When I hear the story of Jesus walking on water, in my mind I picture the paintings that I saw in my childhood Sunday School classes. It’s dark and windy. A boat is off in the distance and Jesus is walking on the water toward it, hand outstretched. I can see Peter’s face which is filled with fear as his entire body lunges for Jesus. I can feel Peter’s angst, “Help me Lord!” I can see Jesus’ willing and calm presence. And what about the other disciples in the boat? What must they have been thinking about their friend? I’m trying to picture which one of my friends would be the one to blurt out some ridiculous thought, and then jump out of a boat in the middle of a lake because they believe they’ll be able to walk across it? Would I have been like Peter? Or would I have sat in the boat like those other eleven and witnessed what was happening?
But what Pastor Michelle talked about this weekend, and what we’ve read in Steve Cuss’ book, “The Expectation Gap”, is the question… is a story from the Bible really intended to make me focus on which person I think that I can relate to the most? Or, instead of making it all about me, is this story, and every other one from the Bible, meant to evoke the awe of what God was doing?
Am I able to see Jesus’ power and might? Do I notice what He does? How he was able to care for crowds of people all day long, performing a miracle to feed them. How he let the disciples retreat and rest while he dismissed the crowds. And then, Jesus finishes the day by strolling across a lake to go out and be with his people. And while he’s on his way, Peter can’t just sit and wait for Jesus to get to him, but instead has to test Jesus… “If it is truly you, Lord, let me walk out to you”… and Jesus doesn’t get upset or frustrated… he says “OK Peter, come to me.’…. And when Peter doubts and Jesus has to help him, Jesus still is not mad. How is that story not actually about the most patient, caring, strong and powerful Savior?
Gracious God,
Thank you for being so patient with us. Help us wait for you to come to us when our instinct is to be impetuous. Help us be brave to come to you when we are shy and slow. Help us to see your word in a new way. Breathe life into the stories that we think we know. Shift our focus from ourselves, to you, and help to grow our faith and grow our minds.
In your mighty, precious and saving Son’s name,
Amen.
Written by Julie Anderson
Julie Anderson is a member of Sheridan’s Devotion Writing Team. She works as Sheridan’s Children’s Music Coordinator where she is passionate about teaching children to use their musical gifts to praise God.
Julie is married to Scott and counts her greatest honor as being mom to Adrienne, Eliot and Elise.