Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus
Matthew 14:25-31 (NIV)
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Reflection
Matthew recounts a profound moment in the life of Peter and the disciples. They found themselves in the midst of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, battling fierce winds and crashing waves. In the darkest hours of the night, Jesus approached them, walking on the water. Seeing Him, the disciples were terrified, thinking they were witnessing a ghost. In response, Jesus uttered words that echo through the corridors of time, piercing the heart of anyone facing seemingly insurmountable circumstances: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Peter, ever impulsive, sought reassurance. He knew that Jesus was Master over all creation, including the seas, so if this was in fact Christ, then He could enable Peter to walk on the water as well. And with that, Peter stepped out of the boat, defying the laws of nature, and began to walk on water toward Jesus. It was an incredible display of trust and faith.
However, as Peter fixed his eyes on the wind and the waves, fear gripped him. Doubt crept in, and he began to sink. Instantly, Jesus reached out His hand, caught Peter, and said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
This passage reminds us of the delicate dance between faith and fear, trust and doubt. Life often throws storms our way—times when circumstances seem impossible, and the waves threaten to engulf us. Yet, in those moments, Jesus invites us to step out in faith, to fix our eyes on Him.
When we trust in Jesus, even in the face of overwhelming challenges, He sustains us. Our physical eyes may deceive us, leading us to believe that we are hopeless, but when we view our situations through a spiritual lens, guided by God's word, we find the strength to overcome. It's when we divert our gaze from Christ, allowing fear and doubt to take hold, that we experience hardships and suffering.
Let this passage encourage us to trust Jesus in the storm, to walk on water with Him. When the waves of life threaten to consume us, may we fix our eyes on the One who calms the storms, and walk boldly in the assurance that He will carry us through.
Action Steps
1. Fix your eyes on Jesus daily: Begin each day by consciously fixing your focus on Jesus. Spend time in prayer, reading the Scriptures, and meditating on His promises.
2. Respond to challenges with prayer and faith: When faced with difficulties, rather than allowing fear and doubt to take hold, respond with prayer and faith. Instead of relying solely on your own strength, surrender the situation to Jesus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the midst of life's storms, help me fix my gaze on Your Son, Jesus. Grant me the strength to step out in faith, trusting in His power to carry me through challenges. May my prayers be a constant conversation, and may my daily actions reflect unwavering faith in Your guidance. Amen.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Reflection
Matthew recounts a profound moment in the life of Peter and the disciples. They found themselves in the midst of a storm on the Sea of Galilee, battling fierce winds and crashing waves. In the darkest hours of the night, Jesus approached them, walking on the water. Seeing Him, the disciples were terrified, thinking they were witnessing a ghost. In response, Jesus uttered words that echo through the corridors of time, piercing the heart of anyone facing seemingly insurmountable circumstances: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Peter, ever impulsive, sought reassurance. He knew that Jesus was Master over all creation, including the seas, so if this was in fact Christ, then He could enable Peter to walk on the water as well. And with that, Peter stepped out of the boat, defying the laws of nature, and began to walk on water toward Jesus. It was an incredible display of trust and faith.
However, as Peter fixed his eyes on the wind and the waves, fear gripped him. Doubt crept in, and he began to sink. Instantly, Jesus reached out His hand, caught Peter, and said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
This passage reminds us of the delicate dance between faith and fear, trust and doubt. Life often throws storms our way—times when circumstances seem impossible, and the waves threaten to engulf us. Yet, in those moments, Jesus invites us to step out in faith, to fix our eyes on Him.
When we trust in Jesus, even in the face of overwhelming challenges, He sustains us. Our physical eyes may deceive us, leading us to believe that we are hopeless, but when we view our situations through a spiritual lens, guided by God's word, we find the strength to overcome. It's when we divert our gaze from Christ, allowing fear and doubt to take hold, that we experience hardships and suffering.
Let this passage encourage us to trust Jesus in the storm, to walk on water with Him. When the waves of life threaten to consume us, may we fix our eyes on the One who calms the storms, and walk boldly in the assurance that He will carry us through.
Action Steps
1. Fix your eyes on Jesus daily: Begin each day by consciously fixing your focus on Jesus. Spend time in prayer, reading the Scriptures, and meditating on His promises.
2. Respond to challenges with prayer and faith: When faced with difficulties, rather than allowing fear and doubt to take hold, respond with prayer and faith. Instead of relying solely on your own strength, surrender the situation to Jesus.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in the midst of life's storms, help me fix my gaze on Your Son, Jesus. Grant me the strength to step out in faith, trusting in His power to carry me through challenges. May my prayers be a constant conversation, and may my daily actions reflect unwavering faith in Your guidance. Amen.
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