Living Outside the Boat

Living Outside the Boat Matthew 14:24-32 is a well-known passage that speaks of Jesus walking on water; coming to the disciples in the midst of a storm. He then invites Peter to join Him, and yet in the midst of the tempest, Peter’s faith fails him. I have heard many a pastor speak of trusting Jesus in the storm, keeping the focus on Him in the midst of trials, and so many other takes on this amazing and powerful passage. However, I challenge you to look at this passage and your life in a very different way today–one that will, no doubt, stretch your faith. You see, I believe that we as Christians are meant to live on the water! Yes, that’s right. I live on the water. You see, Jesus did not tell Peter to get back into the boat. As a matter of fact, He chastised him for his lack of faith. Jesus invited Peter to get out of the boat and come to Him, yet Peter, taking his eyes off Jesus and looking at his circumstances rather than having faith, began to sink and cries out for help; much like we ourselves so often do when we face our daily challenges. However, if we learn to live outside the boat in the midst of the storms, keeping our eyes on Christ, we will not only walk on water (hypothetically); we will learn to be comfortable living there. Recently, after clear leading of the Lord, we moved to Navarre, Florida, in order to take part in and begin some ministries in the area. One week before the planned move, we still needed over $10,000 to pay for the moving van and trip costs, yet knowing the Lord’s will, we ordered the van. The Lord told us the money would be in the mail, and lo and behold, days before leaving, there was a sufficient check in our mailbox. The morning before we were to begin loading, we still had need of an enclosed trailer, one about 16 feet long, in order to haul the things not accepted in a moving van. Unable to find a trailer of that size we could afford, I decided to take a look at a much smaller one. While continuing to pray about it and feeling as though I was about to settle, I moved forward slowly, but let’s face it, we’re about out of time. Moments before going to see the trailer, a friend, hearing about my need, gave my family and me an almost new 16-foot enclosed trailer! As we trekked across the United States each day, we became more and more eager to leave the hotel scene and arrive at our new home, which should close escrow upon our arrival. In route, we are told there are issues with the loan approval, and the closing will be delayed. Oh, did I mention we lost our pre-approval before leaving, and we’re now without a loan on our home? After nearly an additional week in a motel in Navarre, the owner (a fellow believer) allows us to move in without a loan and rent the home on a daily basis. Nervous, and with minds filled with scenarios of the storm around us and countless doubts and fears, we moved into the home the Lord had promised us. Against all earthly odds and in a miraculous move, two weeks or so later our home closed escrow! In Mark 16:16-18, Jesus speaks these parting words to His disciples: He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. This was not a ‘maybe scripture’; this is a truth spoken by Jesus; a desire of His heart and the Father’s heart for all men. I believe the Lord desires that each of us would be so filled with His Spirit so outside the boat that these things would be a sign unto us who believe. If we were to stop looking at all of the reasons why we cannot be men and women of such great faith and begin to walk in the promises, the churches could not hold those who would believe! Those of us who determine to live on the water outside the boat will be the first to tell you that this is not easy. It is, in fact, very difficult. Life in the boat is safe and much easier. However, God does not call us to live in the boat; He has called each one of us out. Will you take the step? Gene Burroughs, Servant Navarre, Florida