Following Jesus into Risk and Failure

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Following Jesus into Risk and Failure
Keywords: “faith”
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Passage: Matthew 14:25-31*

25. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.

26. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.

27. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

28. And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

29. And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

30. But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

31. And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Questions

1. Would you have been as frightened as the disciples had you seen someone walking across a lake, on the waves, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night? Might you have thought, "It is a ghost!"?

 

2. Why was Peter able to act fearLESSly in verses 28-29?

 

3. Why did Peter sink?

 

Practical help

At the beginning, Peter is everybody’s hero in this story. He steps out of the boat and walks toward Jesus ON THE WAVES! The only two people in the history of the world to ever walk on water are Jesus and Peter — and it happens right here! But, he ultimately failed on the high seas because He took His eyes off of Jesus in the storm.

Disciples who take their eyes off of Jesus in the storm sink. Period. We won’t be able to avoid it. FAILURE FOLLOWS A LACK OF FOCUS.

What we should note, though, is that Jesus made a man of rock-solid faith out of Peter, the one of "little faith." And He can do the same for you!

Keep your eyes on Jesus and your faith will be strong enough to withstand any storm. If you’ve sunk (maybe by surfing to Internet sites that feature porn?), call out to Him as Peter did, "Lord, save me!" — and He will.

Look at Him again and your faith will grow strong again. Jesus is able to grow the faith of followers who have suffered a failure of trust.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."