Distracted By The Miracle
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! ”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
"Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Matthew 14:22-33 NLT
What a tremendous amount of focus it would have taken for Peter to keep his eyes on Jesus. The distance between Jesus and the waves was very small. One little glance down and his eyes were on his circumstance. Peter showed us what we are all vulnerable to...distraction.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! ”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
"Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Matthew 14:22-33 NLT
***
What a tremendous amount of focus it would have taken for Peter to keep his eyes on Jesus. The distance between Jesus and the waves was very small. One little glance down and his eyes were on his circumstance. Peter showed us what we are all vulnerable to...distraction.
Two major things were occurring in this moment...the miracle and the storm - the miracle being a supernatural event and the storm being a natural event. Both were vying for Peter's attention and both will vie for our attention, too. The difference is this: focusing on the natural will always pull us down, focusing on the supernatural will always pull us up and sustain us in the impossible.
What are your eyes focusing on? What are you more caught up in - the natural or the supernatural? Are you so consumed with what Jesus is doing that the events in the natural pale in comparison? If you're going to be distracted, let the supernatural distract you from the storm rather than the other way around.
Photo: freepik.com
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