It's Not How Much We Believe, But WHO We Believe In

What could Simon Peter have been thinking as he stepped over the gunwale of a perfectly sound fishing boat. There was nothing for him to stand on but water. Maybe he was thinking, "Way to go, Peter. Shoot off your big mouth and tell Jesus to call me to Him." Or perhaps Peter thought, "What in the world am I doing? This is impossible!" Could be he was having to tough a time thinking about anything, because he was trying so hard not to throw up.

I can relate to all of those feelings. Last week I voluntarily gave up my full-time job as a painter for a construction firm. Not because I had a job offer with better pay, but because I have a calling to surrender myself for more time in ministry. When I look at the monthly bills and consider that I've almost cut my income in half, I'm thinking everything Peter may have thought.

When Jesus was standing on the surface of the Sea of Galilee, He said to Peter, "Come," and Peter got out of the boat. He didn't do as well as Jesus when it comes to walking on water, but he did make it to Him and back to the boat with Jesus' help. In our relationship with Christ, He calls us in much the same way. "Come, to where I am." We might think that's crazy and impossible, but we can do it with Jesus' help.

The thing that gets me about this account in the gospel is how so many people reprimand Peter for having such little faith. Well, I like to look at this way: If just a little faith helped a man get out of a boat and walk to Jesus on water, then what kind of faith did the eleven other guys have that stayed put in the boat?

What Does God Want from Me?

He wants us to acknowledge that we are but strangers and exiles on this earth.

He wants us to seek a homeland that cannot be found here but in Him.

He wants us to trust Him even when the circumstances say otherwise.

Faith is what He wants from me.

This is what God thinks of people who have faith:

1. He is not ashamed to be called their God (Hebrews 11:16).

2. He says this world is not worthy of them (Hebrews 11:38).

The faith that God seeks in man is not the kind that makes everything perfect for you. In fact, life can often get rougher, in spite of faith. That's because the kind of faith required for this life is one that is tough. "Tougher than the circumstances get rougher," one might say.

But another may say, "That's just too much to ask - to trust God - to have the assurance for things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen." To that I say, "Amen, it is a lot and no one ever said it would be easy to trust." Yet, there is reason to hope: the object of our faith is undefeated, inexhaustible, and indescribable - the object of our faith is God Himself, Jesus the Christ.

You can trust Him. Jesus always gives more than He'd ever ask for.