“Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
Matthew 14:24-26 MSG
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In today’s Scripture from Matthew 14, it’s been a very long and demanding day for the disciples and Jesus. They’ve been helping Jesus with His preaching, teaching and finally feeding as many as 15,000 men, women and children. 

Once all the ministry was accomplished Jesus told his disciples to get in the boat and go across the sea of Galilee to the other side. 

He would send the multitude home and go up into the hills, to be alone, and pray into the night.

“Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
Matthew 14:24-26 MSG

What a mess these 12 disciples found them selves in! After that incredible day of ministry, here they are in the early morning hours, in the middle of a terrible storm.

I’m sure they were worn out and obviously scared out of their minds!

Matthew‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭from the Complete English Version says “They were terrified and started screaming.”

That was a bad scene! Things didn’t look good!
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But here comes Jesus and He was quick to comfort them. He wasn’t going to leave them in that condition. Nor will He leave you in that condition as well!

“Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:24-30‬ ‭MSG‬‬

I hadn’t really thought much about this before today, but as I’ve been looking at this Scripture, I see how the voice and words of the Master produced a perfect calm in Peter.

I mean he went from being terrified and screaming, to being perfectly calm. Stepping out of the boat and walking on upon those wind whipped, thrashing waves.

How could that happen? How can a person go from being terrified and screaming to being at peace?

Well Peter took to heart what Jesus said and I think that's a wonderful word of instruction for you and I today!

“Jesus spoke to them at once. “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don't be afraid!” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Those words from the Master had a tremendous affect on Peter. 

All fear left him and faith came!

Peter was always very bold and sometimes very presumptuous. Sometimes he was right and sometimes he was wrong! 

But I like that about him, he was willing to step out even if he might be making a mistake.

Think about this! There were 11 other disciples in that boat. But Peter was the only one, that could muster up the courage to ask Jesus if he could join Him on the water.

Peter was willing to take a step of faith, glory to God!

He wanted to be where Jesus was!

Yes he would take his eyes off the Lord at a point during his walk on the water. And yes he would start the sink because of that, but he got out of the boat!

​There will be many occasions in our life where we will have to decide whether we stay in the boat or get out. Whether we are willing to risk the criticism of others or the possibility of failing.

Be very strong and very courageous God told Joshua (Joshua 1) and that’s exactly the way we should live our Christian lives!

So let's get out of the boat today!

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
‭‭I John‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And from Matthew 7:11 from the Passion Translation it makes this comparison, with an earthly father and our Heavenly Father:

“If you, imperfect as you are, know how to lovingly take care of your children and give them what’s best, how much more ready is your heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask him?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:11‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Take a moment and meditate on what our Heavenly Father wants to do for you today, and each and every day.

“How much more ready is your Heavenly Father to give wonderful gifts to those who ask Him.”

He’s your much more ready God! Ready to act on your behalf!

Confidence is such a powerful word and without it we are headed for defeat!

Confidence is knowing beyond any shadow of doubt.

Confidence is knowing that you know, deep down on the inside of you, that God will take care of this situation or need.

Confidence is always yes and amen!

A person with confidence is a person who is willing to step out in faith. In spite of the circumstances or resources. 

Why? Because our confidence is in Him!

To the baseball player stepping up to the plate trying to hit a 100 mph fastball, must have confidence that they can hit the ball.

“And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Our confidence is not in our ability, but it is to be founded upon His ability and resources. 

Go to Him boldly and confidently.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Oh what a precious promise God has given us! His invitation is always open to us as His children!

“Come boldly unto the throne of grace.”
​
“The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭28:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Come He says and join Me and tell Me what it is you desire. Ask of Me and I will give it to you.

He’s waiting your arrival today!

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Several years ago we replaced our little Volkswagen Beetle with a brand new vehicle. And I remember the first time sitting behind the wheel at the dealership looking at all the different buttons, switches and touch screen  wondering how all of this stuff worked.

It was way too complicated compared to our little VW. We decided this vehicle was to be ours and before leaving the dealership the salesman gave me a crash course on how some of the buttons and switches worked.

I must admit thinking , as I was headed home, do I know enough about this vehicle to even drive it home, safely?

Well fortunately I didn’t wreck! First thing I did after we got home and admired the car a little I get out the owners manual and started to read. Well we did figure out how things worked.

I wanted to share that story because God has given us His “owners manual” which shows how everything works and operates in the Kingdom of God.

Look at the Word of God, His owners manual, as your personal owners manual given to you by God.

Because that’s exactly what He did!

Unless we know what’s in the owners manual, we won’t know how His Kingdom operates. In the natural world there are physical laws but in the Kingdom of God there are spiritual laws.

How those spiritual laws work and operate are found in His Word.

We must get in the Book. We have got to know what’s in the Book, or we will wreck!

Our lives are dependent on that and so are the lives of those we influence.

We must, read the Word, meditate in the Word, know the Word, recite the Word and be a doer of the Word!

God spoke directly to Joshua and told him exactly what he must do to succeed in leading God’s people:

“Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭GW‬‬T

Paul’s instruction, by the Holy Spirit, to Timothy whom he was discipling and training him for the ministry, said this:

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

The Word of God is like the blood that flows through your veins. Without it you will die!

The Word of God is like the oxygen you breathe. Without it you will die!

The 119th Psalm is all about the Word. I would encourage you to read and meditate on this Psalm. There are 176 verses in this Psalm so it’s a long one, but I want you to see how much David loved God’s instructions.

Take your time don’t be in a hurry and allow the Holy Spirit to help you!

“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:14-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:18-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In today’s Scripture, which is a wonderful example of the love friends have for one another and their faith-filled determination, that would see their friend healed!

That’s what I would call some awesome friends who would do anything to get their sick friend to Jesus!

This same event is also recorded in other places in Scripture:

“Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭KJV

In every one of these instances recorded in Scripture Jesus saw the faith of these men. 

It says He saw their faith! 

There is a demonstration of faith, when real faith is being acted upon. You can see it in action!

James says that faith without works, a corresponding action, is dead. 

I like the way the Message Bible brings this Scripture from James out:

“I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭MSG‬‬

In other words, if there is no tangible evidence of your faith there is no faith.

We can talk all day about how much we believe and trust God. Even quote all the right Scriptures but are we acting out our faith? Putting feet to our faith we might say.

Real faith, faith that has been released, can be seen.

Now our faith is not in what we see but in what is not seen.

The world says, seeing is believing. But true Bible faith doesn’t work that way!
Thomas, one of Jesus’s disciples, was told by the other disciples, they had seen the Lord, alive after His resurrection. But Thomas would not believe unless he saw some physical evidence. 

“The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
‭‭John‬ ‭20:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Thomas would believe and go on to be a powerful Apostle and Missionary, taking the Gospel to India. It was there that he was martyred for his faith in 72 AD.

Faith says I believe, not because I have seen it, but because I believe.

For that sick man and his wonderful friends that him to Jesus, Jesus saw their faith.

Is there something in your life of faith that Jesus can see? He is looking for it!

LET’S PUT FEET TO OUR FAITH!

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In today’s Scripture Paul said he finished his course! Some translations will say he finished his race. Paul got the job done!

And as he was coming to the end of his life he could look back with no regrets.

But had Paul made mistakes in his life? He sure did! 

He said this about himself: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”--and I am the worst of them all.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Too many of us are living in what I call, the Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve Land.

When you find yourself lamenting and thinking about how many times you may have missed it you will find yourselves living in that land, the land of regret. 

It’s a land where you have been unable to forgive yourself for your past mistakes either real or perceived. It’s a land filled with self condemnation. It’s a place filled with torment. It’s an ugly place to live! 

Your only thought seems to be if only I would’ve, should’ve, or could’ve.

If we look back on our lives everyone of us will find things that we could’ve handled or done differently. It’s always easier after the fact looking back!

In the would’ve, could’ve, should’ve land that’s where our focus is. 

First of all, most often we are comparing our lives before we came to Christ and made him Lord of our lives to our life with Christ.

Big difference!

Look at the apostle Paul. He was a persecutor of the church, he hated believers, had them arrested and thrown in prison though he thought he was carrying  out God’s plan. He himself said that he was a blasphemer. He was there consenting holding the coats of those that participated in the murder of Stephen.

If there was someone who could be regretful about his life before coming to Christ, it certainly was Paul, but he was able to move beyond that.

You see when you came to Christ and made Him Lord of your life He took care of your past.

As I was thinking about this the Lord said this to me; “As a child of Mine, you are no longer responsible for your past, I’am.”

I want you to think about that for a moment!

When you made Jesus Lord of your life, your Savior, God took care of your sin problem. He took care of all of your past would’ve, could’ve and shouldve’s. It was completely eradicated from your life. There is no record to be found.

He doesn’t remember neither should we!

And we should do exactly what the Apostle Paul did regarding his past. It is God’s answer to being set free from the land of regret.

He said “forgetting those things which are behind, I press on…”

Let me encourage you today that your past is your past!

If you have regrets in your life, and you can’t seem to move on in life, you need to do exactly what the Apostle Paul said he did.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Father we thank You today that You have taken care of our past. It’s no longer our responsibility because You sent Your best gift, Your Son Jesus, to take upon Himself all of our sins, mistakes and failures. 

Father help each and everyone of us not to go back to the land of regrets. For You have set us free and free we shall be, in Jesus Name.