READY: “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come
to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. –Matthew 14:28-29
SET: In sports and in the game of life there are always risks
involved. It’s risky to keep the offence on the field with a 4th
down and 3 or 4 yards to go - it’s risky to let the clock run
down to the final 5 seconds before taking the last shot to win
the game - it’s risky to stand up and tell others about what
Jesus means to you . . . but that’s sports as well as your walk
with the Lord . . . there’s always risks.
I’ve learned this truth: “Winners don't wait for chances,
they take them” - winners dare to step out . . . winners dare to
step up . . . and winners dare to take risks. Michael Jordan
said, “I can accept failure, but I can't accept not trying.” You
and I fall short of victory because we’re often afraid to take a
risk.
Why? Well fear is definitely a factor. In Matthew 14 – John
the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2
fish. Then He sent off his disciples in a boat and while He went
off by himself to pray. The disciples get about half way across
the sea and a storm comes up and is tossing their boat about in
the sea. During the worst part of the storm the disciples look
out and there see a person walking on the water. They are
convinced it is a ghost and cry out because they were terrified.
The person calls out: “Be of good cheer, it is I, be not
afraid.”
Isn’t it just like Jesus when you face the storms in life
He’s near and says to you, “Don’t be afraid!”
The disciples are in the boat hanging on for dear life.
Impulsive risk taking Peter calls out, “If it is you Lord, let
me come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” Peter got out
of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. When he saw
the waves, he began to sink and cried out, “Lord save me.”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught hold of
him, lifted him up and helped him get back into the boat and
immediately the storm stopped.
Before Peter stepped out of the boat he made sure it was
Jesus calling him to come. There’s a difference between being a
dare-devil and taking a step of faith.
Peter’s comfort zone was the boat. Jesus called him to step
out of his comfort zone – take the risk - and note, the Lord
didn’t call him to walk on a calm sea. When God calls you to do
something great for him, it always involves taking a step of
faith and it usually involves the supernatural. It involves
trusting God for the end result, even though you don’t know all
the answers or how things are going to work out.
Don’t focus on Peter’s sinking when he saw the wind and
waves. After all he was the only one that got out of the boat.
Before he stepped out he did wait for Jesus to invite him to
“come” walk with Him. Peter’s walk was a walk of faith.
Risks - they’re a part of sports and they’re a part of your
walk with Jesus - “Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort
zone when the Lord calls!”
GO: 1. Have you let divine opportunities pass you by because
you thought the risk was to high? 2. Are you afraid of risk
taking? 3. What will it take for you to accept Jesus at His Word
– “Don’t be afraid!”? 4. What one thing does the Lord want to
help you with so you’ll get out the boat – your comfort zone?
WORKOUT: Mark 4:40; Isaiah 41:13; Proverbs 3:24;Hebrews 13:6
OVERTIME: Lord, when you send me a divine opportunity - give
me the courage to get out of my comfort zone. Amen.
