Matthew 14:28-33
Step Out of the Boat - Matthew 14:28-33
Matthew 14:28-33 (NIVUK)
“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 towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Commentary
Revd. Paul Cowley MBE: Had I stayed where it was safe and didn’t get involved in that, again, God only knows what would happen. But I pushed myself, like Peter did, beyond his comfort zone as he stepped out of the boat. Peter never discovered that Jesus could hold him above the waves until he stepped out of the boat. The thing is, sometimes we pray for God to give us a direction and pointers and give us some idea where we’re supposed to go and where our boat is supposed to sail. But if you have your boat tied up in the harbour, it ain’t going to go anywhere. You have to untether it, you have to drop the sails, and it has to set off, and you have no idea where it’s going. But once you get going and there’s wind in the sails, then you’ll get some direction, then you’ll get orientation. But you have to cut loose. You have to step out of the boat. And sometimes the greatest moments of faith are found not in safety, but in obedience, by doing something that God is asking you to do, and if you’re scared of doing it.