"Sit down, you're rocking the boat!"

One of me and sister's old classic faves was Guys and Dolls...Handsome Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra with a voice that would melt you...we loved watching those oldies!  There is a song in there that says, "Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down you're rocking the boat"...yes, I had to sing it while I typed so I could make sure there were enough "sit down's" in there.  :)  


Well, in life we really ave to do a Peter and get UP and get OUT of the boat!  I realized the other day, while I was chatting to my hubby, that it's in the boat where things are secure...comfortable...you know what to expect and there are no surprises.  It's nice to sit down and enjoy the view...for a time...but to live in the boat for comforts sake causes us to miss out on what God can do in us and through us!  


Matt. 14
 ²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.


The disciple thought Jesus was a ghost at first.  How many grown men, rough and tough men, squeal like girls and cry "Ghost!" when they are doing their normal routine? When we get comfortable in our boat, we get to the point where God-things look irrational or scary...and we react to them with fear.  


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


Again, Jesus saying not to be afraid...fear stops us from SO much...you tell me an issue you can't get through, I guarantee there's a root of fear somewhere...it debilitates us...stops us from forward movement in our lives.


 ²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
   
Take the time to listen closely...through all the noise in life, when it's Him calling, you will know if you take the time to know His voice.


²⁹ “Come,” he said.


Peter responds with a crazy idea.  Go out on the water!?!  How out of the blue is that!?!  I'm sure in all his years as a fisherman it didn't cross his mind to try it before..it would've been silly...but when Jesus is telling us to do something, you can bet your britches that it will be something you never would have done before and something that will be done entirely dependent upon His grace and through faith!


29 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.


Peter put action to his faith.  Faith without works is dead.  


³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”


When we take our eyes off Jesus and his promises and look at the circumstances and difficulties, sinking is inevitable...


 ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”


Jesus didn't say, "Oh Peter, what's wrong with you?  Why don't you have enough faith?  Oh well, you didn't pass the test, I just can't help you anymore...you'll have to try and swim back to the boat and see if you can save yourself."  Instead, He reached out His hand.  His hand is outstretched...when he died his hands were outstretched and he saved us once and for all, forever making right of our wrongs.  In our failures, His grace makes it right.  We will fail, we will doubt, but if our heart is right, we can receive what He already paid for.


 ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”


Notice that they climbed back in the boat...I doubt Jesus started walking toward the boat, then saved Peter and then decided to swim the rest of the way.  They both walked on the water.  Jesus is with us - walking the path with us, guiding us, never leaving us, helping us in our weakness, making us strong, seeing us through.  And when our test becomes a testimony, it will glorify Jesus - it will cause others to see Him for who He truly is.


Last thing...in the boat, we find comfort and there may be security, but there is no room for anything else...when you get out of the boat and step out in faith, suddenly doors open, opportunities make themselves known...MIRACLES happen.


It's definitely okay to rock the boat!  :)