Peter In The Boat: A Postscript

And there is more…

(Slide 4)We must also let God dig down into our hearts and souls and bring up that which has dammed up within us the love for God and others.

As I think about my own life and journey, I recall that when I have allowed God, through the Holy Spirit, to dig within me, there has been spiritual progress that has included uprooting grief, anger, jealousy, and a host of other things that has dammed up love for God and others within me. Only when God has brought these things up, and I have faced them honestly, have I begun to live again. Just as Peter could not return to the place the Lord desired for him to be until Jesus did His digging and prodding, so too with us we cannot move forward until we allow God, when it is necessary, to do the same for us.

In Jesus’ command to Peter again to ‘follow me,’ Jesus is calling Peter back to the life of following that we are called to as well. However, as Peter (and the others) would be told in a short time, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5, NLT)… we too, are reminded the Holy Spirit is vital in our journey.

(Slide 5) So, we ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to follow Him.

We need the Holy Spirit to help us make the choices and do the things that in our own strength we cannot do. Like walking on the water or facing our inner pain and failures that holds us up and hold us back.

As we conclude this morning, I want us to remember this:

In our life journey with God, there are moments when we are to get out of the boat because our faith and trust in the Lord needs to grow. But, there are also moments when we need to get back in the boat because we need to rest and be renewed.

In both situations, we must listen to and for the Lord’s direction.

What are you needing to do this day? Get out or get in? Listen to and for the Lord. Then respond in faith and love.

Let us continue to walk by faith and not by sight. Amen.