Spectator or Participator?
“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:28,29
It was one strange request! “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water”. It is an incredulous request. Many would say a rash and unthinking. Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to happen! Just for a moment consider the facts. The disciples are fighting contrary winds when they see an apparition, and are filled with fear. Jesus replies, “Be of good cheer, it is I.” They have never before, as far as we know, seen Jesus walk on water, but the voice of their Master, and the knowledge that He can do the impossible, perhaps abates their fears. While they are silent, watching Jesus perform this miracle, and are probably thankful for His presence, Peter instead asks to come to Him. I am struck by this request of Peter. Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to be accomplished in him! Peter must know well that men don’t walk on water, and therefore in his request for permission is also the request for enablement. Jesus complies, and Peter walks on water, however short the time, and becomes a participator in one of the most fascinating miracles that seemingly had no other purpose than to validate his impulsive request.
Many attribute it to the fact that the ardor of Peter was stronger than his faith. Some have used this as an example of warning against impulsiveness in faith. I see quite the opposite. While the other disciples believe that Jesus can do the impossible, Peter is the one who asks God to enable him to do the impossible. I am convinced that often the difference between being a spectator in God’s miracle or a participator is this extravagance of the heart of faith. This boldness that not only believes in the God of the impossible, but asks God the permission and enablement to participate in the impossible. It is the ethos of a child-like heart, driven not always by practicalities, but by the undying love for its Master. It is this romance of faith that so captivates the heart of God, and I think it is the reason Jesus never rebukes Peter for his seemingly impulsive and immaterial request, but rather for the brevity of such an impulse. Peter’s doubt was simply that Peter became more practical. His child-like idealism that spurred that initial impulse gave way to a grown-up practicality when it saw the contrary winds, and Peter doubted that if this miracle that he himself had asked for was really happening.
I think this is often the nature of faith. When I reflect on those early days when I first trusted in the Lord, and compare them to some of the later, more mature days, I find that, while there are many beautiful things you learn as you mature, there is one I wish to recapture from the early days. It is this spontaneous impetuousness of child-like faith. That heart that can not only believe God for His ability to do the miraculous, but can fling itself with complete abandonment on His willingness to do so through me. A heart that is not simply content that it serves the God who is able to do the impossible in general, but the one that dares to ask and believe in His willingness to allow me to participate in accomplishing the impossible. I pray that this year be the year when we move from being a spectator to a participator. May the Lord grant us that faith.
Danesh Manik
_____________________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org/. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
It was one strange request! “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water”. It is an incredulous request. Many would say a rash and unthinking. Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to happen! Just for a moment consider the facts. The disciples are fighting contrary winds when they see an apparition, and are filled with fear. Jesus replies, “Be of good cheer, it is I.” They have never before, as far as we know, seen Jesus walk on water, but the voice of their Master, and the knowledge that He can do the impossible, perhaps abates their fears. While they are silent, watching Jesus perform this miracle, and are probably thankful for His presence, Peter instead asks to come to Him. I am struck by this request of Peter. Peter is actually asking Jesus to allow the impossible to be accomplished in him! Peter must know well that men don’t walk on water, and therefore in his request for permission is also the request for enablement. Jesus complies, and Peter walks on water, however short the time, and becomes a participator in one of the most fascinating miracles that seemingly had no other purpose than to validate his impulsive request.
Many attribute it to the fact that the ardor of Peter was stronger than his faith. Some have used this as an example of warning against impulsiveness in faith. I see quite the opposite. While the other disciples believe that Jesus can do the impossible, Peter is the one who asks God to enable him to do the impossible. I am convinced that often the difference between being a spectator in God’s miracle or a participator is this extravagance of the heart of faith. This boldness that not only believes in the God of the impossible, but asks God the permission and enablement to participate in the impossible. It is the ethos of a child-like heart, driven not always by practicalities, but by the undying love for its Master. It is this romance of faith that so captivates the heart of God, and I think it is the reason Jesus never rebukes Peter for his seemingly impulsive and immaterial request, but rather for the brevity of such an impulse. Peter’s doubt was simply that Peter became more practical. His child-like idealism that spurred that initial impulse gave way to a grown-up practicality when it saw the contrary winds, and Peter doubted that if this miracle that he himself had asked for was really happening.
I think this is often the nature of faith. When I reflect on those early days when I first trusted in the Lord, and compare them to some of the later, more mature days, I find that, while there are many beautiful things you learn as you mature, there is one I wish to recapture from the early days. It is this spontaneous impetuousness of child-like faith. That heart that can not only believe God for His ability to do the miraculous, but can fling itself with complete abandonment on His willingness to do so through me. A heart that is not simply content that it serves the God who is able to do the impossible in general, but the one that dares to ask and believe in His willingness to allow me to participate in accomplishing the impossible. I pray that this year be the year when we move from being a spectator to a participator. May the Lord grant us that faith.
Danesh Manik
_____________________________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org/. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
posted by Danesh Manik | 8:31 AM
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