WESTWOOD FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WESTWOOD FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Maybe Peter’s faith was weak and he allowed himself to be distracted. But at least he had the courage to get out of the boat! And unless we get out of the boat, we’ll never know what it is to walk by faith—we’ll never know what miracles might occur. So like Peter, we too can (and maybe should) step out of whatever boat find ourselves in, whatever doubts and fears hold us back, responding to the Lord who bids us come to him. When we do, marvelous things happen. When we do, we discover new things about ourselves and our world.
We can risk, because we have a Loving Creator who watches over us.
We can trust, because we have a Forgiving Father who cares for us.
We can step out, because we have a Powerful God who is sure to save.
The artwork to the right is The Hand of God, by Yongsung Kim
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
