Matthew 14:28 - 31 “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?”
You of little faith; why did you doubt?
Notice Jesus didn't ask, "why did you doubt me?" Jesus was asking about doubt, but not necessarily doubt in Jesus. He could ask us the same question. How often do we have doubt in ourselves or our circumstances? Oftentimes, I find that I have loads of faith in Jesus but doubt that I can do whatever. I don't know if I will succeed or complete the task or do it as well as someone else. I sink.
Instead of trusting in the call - Jesus beckoned Peter "Come", - we trust in ourselves. On a good day, we answer the call by climbing over the edge. Then we begin to leave the call by looking at the water and feeling the wind. We lose our focus on the call. We leave faith behind to do the task.
I wonder if Jesus is asking Peter to evaluate his faith. What would big faith look like? We know what little faith looked like. Peter got out of the boat then after a few steps he called out as he was sinking. What would the scene be if Peter had had big faith?
Big faith for Peter might have been walking on the water for minutes instead of steps. It might include calling to the others to join them in the journey of walking on water. Big faith makes the impossible possible.
What if we had big faith to answer the call AND keep our focus on the fact that Jesus called us to do this whatever He's called you to. Not focus on the project, program, ministry opportunity but on the fact that Jesus called us.
Jesus calling us means some important things.
1) Jesus is talking to us, communicating with us. The WORD that created everything is talking to us. Ponder on that a minute.
2) Jesus has a plan that He is asking us to be part of. What an amazing thing!! We have the opportunity to participate in God's work on earth.
3) Jesus didn't ask Peter to "come" because He knew Peter would sink. He bid him "come" because He knew that Peter could walk on the water. If He calls us to something it's because He knows we can do it, likely only because of His help, but we can do it.
4) Jesus has enough faith for the two of us. He didn't sink. He pulled Peter back up to the surface where his feet were back on the water, or perhaps He carried Peter back to the boat. Regardless Jesus had enough faith for both of them.
5) Doubt has a part in faith. We need to evaluate where our doubt lies. We can doubt ourselves, but have faith in the One who calls us and knows where we will need help and where we will need encouragement to keep going. Our doubt needs to be limited....to not think more of ourselves than we ought. Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Some have more doubt than others - according to the faith God has distributed to each of us. That is fine. But don't have too much faith in yourself. Peter would have sunk immediately if he'd depended on his own power to walk on the water.
Oh, come, you of little faith. God has plans in which he's inviting you to participate. He'll supply everything needed.