| devotional by: Becki Ryan |
Added: 02-04-2008 |
Becki Ryan: Worshipping on the Water
“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘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 toward 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?’” Matt. 14: 25-31
Recently my Husband and I were in Denmark leading worship at a series of seminars. There was one message that made a profound impact on us. The speaker taught from this passage. He went on to explain how to Christ walking on water was His normal. Of course the disciples didn’t feel the same. The Lord had to calm their fears by saying “It is I.” And this is the part I LOVE! I’m not sure if it was guts or fear that made Peter ask this… but I love it still the same. Peter says, “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” In that moment, in one word Christ invited Peter into HIS normal, and for a brief moment Peter was walking on water. Can you imagine? Not only walking on water… but, walking on water WITH CHRIST! Hello! It doesn’t get a lot better than that.
Now to my point: With Christ, in HIS normal we can do anything. It’s when we take our eyes off of him, even for a split-second like Peter did, that we begin to sink. The same is true in worship. Christ desires authentic, whole- hearted worship. He desires us to leave our stuff at the door and dive into HIM. Please hear me when I say, and truly believe, there is NO one way to worship that is better than the other. Christ LOVES creative worship, He LOVES traditional worship, HE LOVES OUR WORSHIP period. He loves it because it’s about HIM. The minute we lose sight of him is when we begin to sink. We can take our eyes off Christ VERY quickly. It can be due to fear like Peter, or it can start out in a good way by receiving the gifts He gives us… yet taking credit for them, distracting others with them, or just using our gifts so much or so loud that we distract ourselves and others from worshipping. I can say this because I’ve been there. For a long time I distorted my gifts for my pleasure. I took what the Lord had given me for granted. I desired fame, fortune and credit. It took a HUGE amount of humbling and healing to find my true purpose, my passion, my one desire. WORSHIPPING HIM!
My question to you as well as myself is: Are we easily impressed with the WOW of being invited into Christ’s normal and focusing on Him in worship? Or are we caught up in the wow of “I can’t believe I’m walking on water.” Peter’s eyes were on the wind of the storm, rather than on Christ who was standing right in front of him. If Peter got distracted while standing on water in front of the most High God… how easy is it for you and I to get distracted.
Lord you are worthy of our worship. Thank you for inviting us all into your normal. May we say yes to each invitation. We love you Jesus, Amen.
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