I believe, as Christians, for so long we have told the Lord, “if you will come and help me, I think I can accomplish….”  Or we pray things like, “Our goal is …”

How about we ask Him what He wants for us to do?  I’m saying walk right up to Him and ask Him what He wants to do with you.  What is His specific calling for YOU?

Today, I want to look at a few passages of scripture about Jesus, His disciples, and what they do when faced with their own disbelief and faith.  

Whatever He calls you to, know that it will always be more than you can do on your own!  Consider Luke 5:1-11…

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch. Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.  Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

I just love that passage.  The size of what the Lord is calling you to will always be so much that it scares you.  Another passage of Jesus and His disciples comes to mind: Matthew 14:22-36…

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.  Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn 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?”  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”

Can you believe this?  Peter actually walks on the water with Jesus.  Just like we talked about recently, Peter turned his focus off of his circumstances and he turned his focus onto Christ.  He did what the Lord told Him to do and then they all worshipped Him…

 Now, take a look at John 2:1-11…

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”  “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.  Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.  He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”  What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”

I love this last passage for so many reasons.  Jesus’ time of ministry has not even started yet, and people are turning to Him for answers.  His mother however, knows.  She knows that the simplest thing to do is “whatever he tells you.” When the Lord calls you into something you do not know, something that seems as impossible as turning water into wine, something that does not make any sense, what is your response?  Let’s step out.  Step out in faith.  Step out in boldness.  

Let’s look up, press in, and then not be afraid to step out.

My love,