Photo by Jackson Summer on Unsplash
I began this journey by examining the Apostle Peter and his endeavor to walk to Jesus on water.
I wrote:
When Peter was drowning after attempting to walk on water to Jesus, he only had time to say, Lord, save me. (This is where the idea of saying “Jesus” comes from)
The walk of a Christ-follower is not one of self-reliance but surrender.
We do play a part in this Christ-follower walk, but it isn’t our ability that brings success. It is our willingness to rely (surrender) on God (because of Jesus) through the power of the Holy Spirit.
As I reviewed the second entry of this journey, the Holy Spirit impressed my heart, and I realized that more about Peter’s story needed to be told.
As Peter sank, he cried, “Master, save me.” Remember, he was in the water during a violent storm, fighting to keep his head above water. He had a blink-of-an-eye moment to do something. What did he do?
He cried out!
The proverbs of the Old Testament King Solomon says:
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 18:21 The New Living Translation
Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.
Proverbs 18:21 The Message
Peter reaped the consequences of talking (or crying out).
He chose to speak, and the result was life.
Speaking is vital, but what you speak can mean the difference between living and dying, physically and spiritually.
I recently heard a sermon about the battles of life, which shape us for future events. At some point in the process, we shift from being in a battle to looking for a battle (the implication is to defeat the devil in a particular area of your life—or someone else’s life).
When Jesus battled the devil in the New Testament, he did it with words—Word of God words.
In other “words,” you must speak the right words if you want victory.
The Apostle Peter had little time to think about what he would say. His heart cried out, not his head.
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Peter’s head dictated the need for immediate action.
Because of his relationship with the Lord, his spirit lept into action, crying out to Jesus.
Peter was on (and in) the water only because of his request to Jesus, and Jesus’ response—come.
Peter could (or would) make such an outlandish request only because of his relationship with the Lord.
Do you think such a crazy thought would have crossed his mind if he had a causal relationship with God?
I dare say not.
In other words, Peter was in the fix because of his relationship with Jesus.
He was in a predicament because he opened his mouth and spoke—tell me to come if it is you.
Do you think those words were words of life or death?
They were words of life, and he is why.
The words, followed by Jesus’s response, invoked faith. Faith requires action, which is why Peter stepped out of the boat.
Peter’s faith waffled when he took his eyes off Jesus, and given the situation, it carried a disastrous consequence.
The lessons are the power of faith and the importance of staying focused on Jesus.
The fact that Peter faltered and began to sink is one lesson, but what he did then is a testament to his relationship with the Lord.
He cried out, and Jesus was there to rescue him.
Would Peter have drowned had he not cried out to the Lord? It is an intriguing thought, and we may never know the answer to this side of eternity. But one thing is sure: Peter did cry out, and Jesus was there.
Speaking is important for a Christ-follower, but speaking the right words is vital.
Without a close personal relationship with the Lord, Peter might have been paralyzed with fear and said nothing.
He might have tried to muster the strength to swim back to the boat.
He might have cried out, Oh God, I am drowning, which might have prompted one of the disciples to throw him a rope.
Each option is viable, but calling (speaking) on the Lord produced the solution.
Fear (the first option) could have cost him his life.
Relying on his strength or ability (the second option) could have worn him out and cost him his life.
Saying the wrong words (the third option) assumed his friends had their wits about them to toss him a rope. (Do you in man or God?)
In this journey of surrendering ALL, I have tagged the line; I surrender, followed by the expression of uplifted hands (in a surrendering position). It is becoming my mantra for 2025.
Next time, I will pick up the journey because it is interesting.
The journey has begun with some fear and trepidation (which is silly because he is the Creator God who made humanity and has a divine plan for them).
I invite you to follow along because it promises to be an exciting year.
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