“A Walk to Remember” Devotional #20

           

            I have taken many walks in my life.  I have taken many walks with my husband.  There’s a walk I took with him that I will never forget.  That was my “walk to remember.”  We were on our first date and it was a wedding.  We snuck out of the reception and took a walk.  It was beautiful outside and there was a nice gazebo overlooking a pond.  We sat at the bench there and talked for a while.  It was as if we had known each other for a very long time.  It was during the walk back to the reception that I knew he was the one, the one that I would one day marry.  Well there’s another walk that I know of but boy do I wish I was on that walk!

Peter, Jesus’ disciple, was on a boat with the other disciples.  They had just had a pretty memorable meal with 5,000 other people.  Afterwards Jesus had the disciples go into a boat and go ahead of him.  He wanted to have some alone time with His Father.  At about four in the morning Jesus took a walk.  Mathew 14:22-25, “Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.  After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.  But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.  And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.” (NASB)

            Jesus was walking on water!  I know He can do anything and walking on the water was no big deal to Him but to the disciples it was!  They were afraid!  Mathew 14:26-27, “When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”’ (NASB)  I can understand their reaction.  They had never seen or heard of anyone walking on water.  Apparently there was no other logical explanation than to believe it was a ghost!           

What happened next was also amazing!  Mathew 14:28-29, “Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” (NASB) 

Peter was the only one that dared to try and do the same.  He asked Jesus if he could walk on the water.  Notice two things.  First, Peter still had a little doubt that what he was looking at was really Jesus but just in case it was he didn’t want fear to keep him from missing out on an amazing opportunity to actually walk on water.  This was his one shot at doing something amazing.  Second, Peter asked Jesus for permission to walk on the water with Him.  He knew that he couldn’t do it on his own but with Jesus he could do it. 

            Peter was taking a “walk to remember.”  In the Message Bible it says that Peter jumped out of the boat.  That meant that he knew that with Jesus he could do this and was excited.  Also, he trusted that Jesus would take care of him while he was out on the water.  So out he went.  He jumped out and walked towards Jesus!  He knew that he was walking out unto the water and that it was windy.  Yet, somehow, while he was on the water the wind and the churning water distracted him and he started to sink.  Mathew 14:30, “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!”’ (MSG)

            His memorable walk was over!  Why did he get distracted?  Why did he doubt?  Could it be that the others in the boat were yelling out to him and yelling out things like, “Are you crazy man?  What are you doing?  Get back in the boat!  The water is too rough!  You’re going to die!”  Maybe but the Bible doesn’t say that this happened.  Could it be that the water was not as choppy when he was getting out of the boat but while he was on the water it got worst?  Maybe but the Bible doesn’t say that this happened.  Could it be that the wind was so strong that it was pushing against him really hard and it was scaring him?  Maybe but the Bible doesn’t say that this happened either.  All the Bible says is that he was distracted with the wind and the water and he took his eyes off of Jesus and focused instead on his circumstances.

            He knew that Jesus had the power to keep him afloat and if he wanted to they could have walked all the way to the other side, which was where he was headed on the boat.  No matter how, either in the boat or walking on the water Peter was going to make it to the other side because Jesus had already said that was where they were going. 

            Aren’t we like that sometimes too?  How many times have we not allowed distractions keep us from achieving something amazing?  Jesus’ response to us would be the same as it was to Peter.  Mathew 14:31, “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”’  Jesus will reach out his hand to us each and every time we call to him for help just like He did for Peter.  But He will also ask us, why the doubt?  If there is anyone that we can believe, anyone that we can trust wholeheartedly that will never let us down is Jesus.  After Jesus lifted Peter out of the water they walked together into the boat.  (Mathew 14:32)  Jesus not only can lift us up from where we fell He will also walk with us the rest of the way!  Amazing!

 

Thank you for reading this devotional.  My dear friend, I appreciate you and am praying for you.  God bless you!

*If you would like to read this same devotional in Spanish or know of someone that would please visit my Spanish blog at www.ministerioreflejandolaverdad.blogspot.com