Get out of the Boat

It had been many years since I jumped off the boat into the water and donned water skis. Growing up on Florida’s west coast, I spent lots of time on boats. I often sailed with my dad and went on motorboats with my friends. I enjoyed lots of inner tubing, being pulled behind boats,  but water skiing wasn’t my thing.

You see, I was around nine years old when I first began attending summer camp. The camp had a lake, and I took a water skiing class. As much as I tried to receive instruction and get up on those skis, it wasn’t happening. I just couldn’t stay upright on the water, and so I quit trying.

Let’s fast forward to a lake in East Tennessee; I’m now in my late twenties. Our men’s tennis team at East Tennessee State University was on a team-building outing at a lake house with supporters of our  program. Many of our guys water-skied when given the opportunity. Knowing I grew up on the water, they asked me, “Of course you water-ski, right?”

I was at a crossroads. I could walk in fear, remembering my past failures as child, or I could  walk by faith, believing this time as an adult would be different. I could politely decline or boldly jump out of the boat and into the water.

I jumped! And by George, I got up the first time and stayed up for several minutes until I simply tired of the ride. I let go of the rope and gently sank down into the water! It was exhilarating!

I learned a lesson that day. The past doesn’t necessarily equal the present or the future!

As we ponder our witness in our Christian life in general, we are called to walk by faith. That means there are times the Lord calls us to get out of the boat and trust Him. Perhaps He’s calling you to step out in faith today in your witness. What will you do?

Jesus’ calling Peter to get out of the boat and walk on water in the gospel record is instructive for us today. 

A Moment of Fear

“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost.” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer. It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:22-27).

In this narrative the disciples were in the midst of the storm. When they saw Jesus, something they’d never seen before (who walks on water except the Lord!), they trembled!

In our lives we are often catapulted into new and different circumstances amidst people who need Jesus and the thought of actually witnessing to them freaks us out.

During the summer of 1997 I was just beginning my first street evangelistic effort with Jews for Jesus called “Summer Campaign.” I was in the big city, New York, and my team and I were in a busy area of Manhattan one night. My team leader looked at me as we were getting ready to take our positions to hand out gospel literature and said, “Larry, go over to that crowd of people standing in the line at that movie theater across the street and tell them about Jesus. Many people there need Jesus.” It’s hard to describe my fear. For a few minutes I decided it just wasn’t going to happen. 

Is the Lord calling you to reach out evangelistically in some way to someone in your sphere of influence? And the thought of it evokes fear inside of you, the kind of fear that keeps you from action?

Jesus responded to Peter’s and the other disciples’ fear with a phrase He stated more than any other in the gospel accounts, “Fear not!” Will we take head? Will we ask for courage and boldness in the midst of feelings and thoughts filled with trepidation?

A Step of Faith

And Peter answered Him and said, “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).

When the Lord said, “Come,” Peter got out of the boat and did something supernatural, something He could never do without Jesus! You see, Peter was walking literally by faith in that moment!

Twenty years ago on that busy Manhattan street corner, after being initially paralyzed by fear, I took a step of faith and walked right into the heart of that long line of movie-goers, handing out tracts and engaging people.

At the time that was a personal victory for me, a moment when I trusted the Lord and stepped off the proverbial boat into the water! How about you? Perhaps some of you have experienced some faith victories in your Christian witness. Others of you may feel like a failure in this area,  but take heed. Remember the past doesn’t necessarily equal the future, and the Lord always brings us new opportunities to walk by faith. We never arrive! Today is a new opportunity, another moment in time to trust the Lord and see what He can do, maybe using you in ways you’ve never been used.

Focus on Jesus, Not the Circumstance

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me.” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:31-33).

Keeping our eyes on Jesus, trusting in Him, is critical in our Christian life, even in our witness. For the Lord said, “Without Me, can can do nothing” (John 15:5). In contrast, we can “do all things through Christ Who strengthens [us]” (Philippians 4:13).

When Peter took His eyes off Jesus, he got into trouble. The beautiful thing is this: Jesus never took His eyes off Peter. Again God is faithful. 

Called to be a Lifeguard

In the present we’re called to serve the Lord by getting into the water and playing our part in helping save those who are spiritually drowning. God has many people He will be rescue from death and bring to safety. We can praise and thank God that He’s given us an opportunity to play a role in it. 

Just as the Lord called Peter to get out of the boat and into the water, so He calls us to get out of the boat and enter the fray. People are drowning and need to be rescued. In the mystery of the gospel, He uses people like you and me to save them. 

Some of us think we’re terrible swimmers, some even try to say we can’t swim. Others are afraid of sharks, of drowning themselves, or of some other negative circumstance real or imagined. Yet He’s calling us. He’s calling us today to get out of the boat and into the water.

What will you do?