Sink or Walk

This morning, I’m thinking about Peter walking on water. As long as he has his eyes fixed on Jesus, he remained on the surface of it! It was when Peter looked at the severity of the wind and waves that he began to sink. This scenario in the life of Christ and His Apostles shows us what Spiritual warfare looks like. Christ is calling us to walk in and by Faith, sometimes in seemingly impossible scenarios, all the while, the enemy of our souls is trying to get our eyes off of Jesus and on to our current situations; Satan knows that if we look to our circumstances as opposed to our Lord, we’ll sink. Yet the faithfulness of Christ is evident. He didn’t let Peter sink; He fished Peter out of the water (it just struck me that Jesus fished the fisherman out of the sea, but I digress) and questioned him for his lack of faith.

In the same way, the enemy of our souls will send wave after wave against us. He wants us to sink in the mire of our depression, guilt, business, and whatever else can be used to distract us from our God. Jesus calls us all to minister as His body (though not all of us are ministers in the behind-the-pulpit sense), which means all of us have a gift and a purpose in Him. Those gifts may bring one or many to Christ, and those we bring to Christ may bring others to Him. Is it any wonder the enemy sends us trials? So stand firm. Do not let the enemy of your soul gain a foothold. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He died to set you free, so walk in His power and might!

Matthew 14:22-33Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.