#7 Taking The Leap Of Faith

· If you’re a man who shaves in the morning, I’d be willing to wager lunch you never break the pattern of how you do it. You have a little ritual that involves washing your face just so, applying shaving lather just so, and starting with the same stroke at the same place, day after day!

· If you have attended this church for more than a month, it is very likely that you’re sitting in the same row at approximately the same spot on the pew that you’ve sat in every Sunday since you first came to church. Am I right?

· You probably do not remember much about your drive to church this morning. You didn’t have to give conscious thought to putting the car in reverse to back out of the drive, nor to putting it into drive to go forward. You approached the intersections and responded to the lights and traffic pretty much automatically, while you argued with your kids, thought about who you wanted to talk with in Sunday School, and even wondered what to make for dinner.

Trouble with these routines is that in some cases they become a great source of security. Doing the same things in the same way, day after day, is a way of feeling that we’re in control. Some people fall so tightly into the grip of their routines that psychologists have a name for their neurosis. It’s called OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Those so afflicted become slaves of routines and rituals they use to cope with their fears about life!

When someone or something disturbs our routines, pushing us to the edge of our comfort zone, the level of our anxiety that we feel in that moment reveals the tightness of the grip of fear in our life! We grow so comfortable in our rut that we will not take the leap of faith demanded to live for maximum impact, a life that makes a difference.

Turn with me to Matthew 14 this morning. Pew Bible page 1520.

In our Bible text, we find a dramatic story with a humorous twist. In my imagination, somehow I think this is one of the stories that the disciples loved to tell at dinner as they gently and lovingly tweaked their friend, Peter. Maybe John would laughing ask, “Hey, Pete, been walking on water lately?” And the question would be followed by good natured laughter. Of course, Peter always had a great comeback – “Hey, at least I got out of the boat!”

Take a look at the story. Matt. 14: 22-34

Before you’re too rough on Peter for sinking, before you start “oohing and ahhing” over what he did or failed to do, let’s ask the question – how do we know when it’s time to get out of the boat?

As a rule that’s a pretty dumb choice that leads to certain disasters.

When is a good time to take the leap of faith?

It’s a good time, when Jesus invites you to take a walk!

“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.

Matthew 14:28-29

Not all invitations to take a leap of faith are made in our best interest! About 15 times each week, I receive email that are packed with hype, inviting me to invest in some new scheme, some business venture, some stock. I know that these ‘invitations’ are made in the interest of someone else for their profit not mine.