SOAP 04/27/2012; Matthew 14:30

Today's reading: 2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalm 142; Matthew 14
     
S)"³⁰ But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!'"
     

Matthew 14:30 (NASB)

    

O) There are a few ways to see this verse. On the one hand, Simon Peter's faith was shaken when he took his eyes off Jesus. He lost his focus and was consequently, well, sunk. There's another way too look at this, though. Simon Peter, while he was in the middle of this miracle, lost some amount of his faith. His resolution, though, was not to give up and swim back to the boat, as I'm sure he could do (he was a fisherman, afterall). Instead, he calls out to Jesus. So, I'm left wondering, when he took Jesus' hand, did they walk back to the boat together, atop the waves?
    
A) I have the gift of faith and it's important that I treat it that way. I have no trouble at all believing God for mighty things and have seen some great miracles because of that. It's not because I'm special, but because God chose to let me believe more than the average believer - it's still a gift (albeit a small gift, when you consider that Simon Peter was rebuked for having so little faith). Having said that, though, there are times when certain things are harder for me to believe. It's that tricky place between believing God can and believing God will do something. In those moments, my first reaction needs to be to call out to my Lord, to save me, and increase my faith, and secure my place atop the waves, with Him.

     

P) Father, thank You for giving me faith to believe great things. I know sometimes, though, I still have trouble believing for certain things. Help me overcome these doubts, Lord. Holy Spirit, increase my faith, according to the will of the Father. In my moments of wind and waves, take my hand and pull me up. Show me how mighty You are to save. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.