SALSF:DAILY DEVOTION 29-07-2019

THE ACT OF FAITH! 

"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me (Matthew 14:29-30).

It'll be more appropriate if you could read (Matthew 14:25-31) to get a clearer picture of what really happened there. The disciples of our Lord Jesus were on the ship in the middle of the night. Jesus had gone up the mountain to pray as His custom was, so the disciples were alone, sailing to the other side of the sea. Suddenly they saw Jesus walking towards them on the sea. The Bible made us to understand that they were afraid because they thought He was a ghost. That shows that they've never seen a man walked on water! Then the Lord Jesus said, "Relax, it's me Jesus!" To be convinced that He was Jesus, Peter asked to join Him on the sea which Jesus obliged.

Now, in the verse 29 of Matthew 14, the Bible says,  Peter actually "...walked on the water, to go to Jesus." It wasn't as though he never walked. What most folks preach is that Peter got on the water, took a few steps and began to sink but that's not what the Bible talks about. Peter actually walked some distance, approaching Jesus but along the line he began to consider his flesh; walking by sight. The Bible says, "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink...". When Peter first stepped on the water, he was strong in faith, walking on water because he was seeing Jesus do the same. For as long as he was looking forward to Jesus, the divine ability to do what Jesus was doing was on him but along the line Peter shifted his focus from Jesus to other things around him. This was when fear crept in. Faith on the other hand doesn't function where there is fear and that was why Peter began to sink.

This experience of Peter is more like what some Christians go through today. They've shifted their focus, trust, attention from the substance of Jesus and the power in His name. This is why they fall victims of circumstances and situations they suppose to be dominating. Whereas, the Bible says "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..."(Hebrews 12:2). You can't take your eyes off Jesus and expect the storms of life not to overwhelm you. No matter what's going on around you never for once back down. Keep looking up to Jesus because your sufficiency lies in Him.

The Prayer:

Father in the Name of Jesus. I thank you for your transforming grace over my life. Thank you for your infinite mercies and compassion bestowed on me. Thank you for your Word-building my faith and helping me to know you more. Fear has no place in my heart because of your abiding Spirit in me today and forever more, in Jesus' Name. Amen!

Pastor D. STANLEY-MARCUS

President