Doubt

27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:27-31
Doubt is a terrible thing to have. Here is when Peter walked on water.  Peter took his eyes off Jesus and he immediately began to sink. This chapter starts off talking about Jesus hearing about John the Baptist being beheaded. When Jesus heard it he went to be by himself.   A crowd followed him and when he saw them he began to teach and it was getting late in the day and he commanded his disciples to give them something to eat. The disciples had found five loaves and two fishes. Jesus took them and blessed it and broke the bread and fishes in pieces. Then Jesus gave the pieces to his disciples to feed the crowd. After the crowd of 5000 men plus women and children were fed, they took up 12 basketfuls of pieces left over. After that, he sent the disciples on ahead across the lake in a boat and Jesus dismissed the crowd and went up into a mountain to pray. Later Jesus came down and walked on the water to the boat. There was a storm and the boat was being buffeted by the wind.  When they saw Jesus coming they were afraid, they thought Jesus might be a ghost but Jesus called out to them, it is I, do not be afraid. Peter upon seeing Jesus says if it is you bid me to come to you. Peter starts off walking on top of the water but he looks around him at the storm and begins to sink. Jesus reaches out his hand and pulls Peter back up. Jesus asks Peter why did you doubt? Do we believe these stories? I remember one Sunday morning at a church when the deacons were having a special program that afternoon. As was the custom they had a lunch prepared for those that were staying for the afternoon service.  A Deacon got up to make the announcement and asked the people not to stay if they were not going to stay for the afternoon service. The Deacon said we don't have enough food for you if you're not going to stay for the afternoon service.  I heard that and I didn't stay, but I thought how many times have we taught about this feeding of the five thousand and don't believe it ourselves.  Could they not have blessed the food which I am sure they did and could not God have blessed it to be enough with leftovers like he did in Matthew chapter 14?  Back to Peter walking on the water. We are living in stormy days politically. It is tempting as we look around to take our eyes off Jesus. Let us not doubt in the midst of these stressful days and continue to trust in Jesus. We will not sin if we trust in Jesus to the end. Do we see the storms around us and doubt? Do we even believe that God can bless the food like he did here in the book of Matthew? How big is your God? Can he still do the same in your life today? Keep your eyes on Jesus there are storms ahead.  God bless, LVZ.