Don't Play It Safe #16

Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Jesus had told His disciples to get into the boat and head to the other side of the sea. They followed His command, but found themselves in the middle of a life-threatening storm. Then then saw "Someone" walking on the water making faster progress than they were in the boat.  It was all very alarming. We often chide Peter for sinking in "faithlessness", but he was only doing what he believed Jesus was calling Him to do: come, follow Him.  It definitely made more sense than staying in a sinking ship!  Yes, it was "taking a risk", but who knows what lessons would not have been learned if he had not.  It is no surprise that later on Peter was the one who was first to verbalize his faith in Jesus as the Christ.  He took the risk and had Jesus pull him out of the sea.