One thing about God’s Word is that it is active. Each time we read it, it speaks to us, if we will allow it. At times, a passage that we read that we didn’t get much out of in the past, may speak quite boldly speak to us at other times.
If we were to ask random people on the street about the Bible story of Jesus walking on water, I would venture to say that most people are familiar with this story. I guarantee that most “churched kids” know this story by heart.
Some may be like me and have heard this story so many times that when reading it, it’s easy to just skim over and perhaps miss something the Holy Spirit is wanting to reveal.
This happened to me recently in my Bible reading, I couldn’t tell you the number of times I have read or heard the story of Jesus walking on the water. There is the account of this story in gospels, and each gospel tells the story a little differently. However, my Bible reading plan had me reading in the book of John just a few days ago, and it spoke to me in a way it never has.
John 6: 16-21 says:
6 That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. 17 But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. 18 Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. 19 They had rowed three or four miles[a (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206%3A16-21&version=NLT#fen-NLT-26242a)] when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, 20 but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here![b (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%206%3A16-21&version=NLT#fen-NLT-26243b)]” 21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
In this passage I notice two different things, first of all the disciples were waiting for Jesus, and since He hadn’t come back they got in the boat by themselves and headed back across the lake toward Capernaum without him. Was there anything wrong with what they were doing? No, but they decided to go without Him. Wow! I thought how many times have I decided while I was waiting on Jesus, I guess I will just go ahead and do this on my own. Not waiting for His timing or His way.
Well, scripture goes on to say that soon a gale, which is a type of storm with strong winds swept upon them. The sea grew very rough, and soon they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. Note here that the disciples were terrified, but not Jesus. He was trying to catch up with those disciples who had got ahead of him and not waited for him, got on the boat on their own and now they had themselves in a real mess.
How often do I take things in my own hands and not wait on Jesus to guide and lead me. He wants to lead us but we have to allow him. We can’t take off on our boat without him.
Jesus, didn’t just leave the disciples there to fight for themselves, he lovingly said, here I am. They recognized his voice obviously because they let him in their boat. Not only did they let him in their boat, the Bible says they eagerly let him in their boat.
I don’t’ think it was coincidence that once they let Him in their boat immediately, they arrived at their destination.
For us to get to the designed destiny that Jesus has for us, we have to let Him in our boat.
What does that look like for us? It is being willing to surrender our lives daily to Him and to let His Spirt lead us. We can’t allow pride, others, and things of this world to determine our destiny,
So today my question is, will you open your boat to let Him in so just like the disciples you can get to your designed destination. I pray you do!
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