by Max Lucado
Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation. It was fear - the suffocating, heart - racing fear of a man who has no way out - that propelled Peter out of the boat. If Peter had seen Jesus walking on the water during a calm, peaceful day, do you think that he would have walked out to him? Nor do I. Had the lake been carpet smooth and the journey pleasant, do you think that Peter would have begged Jesus to take him on a stroll across the top of the water? Doubtful. But give a man a choice between sure death and a crazy chance, and he'll take the chance . . . every time. It wasn't logic that caused Moses to raise his staff on the bank of the Red Sea. It wasn't medical research that convinced Naaman to dip seven times in the river. It wasn't common sense that caused Paul to abandon the Law and embrace grace. And it wasn't a confident committee that prayed in a small room in Jerusalem for Peter's release from prison. It was a fearful, desperate, band of backed-into-a-corner believers. It was a church with no options. A congregation of have - nots pleading for help. And never were they stronger. At the beginning of every act of faith, there is often a seed of fear. Biographies of bold disciples begin with chapters of honest terror. Fear of death. Fear of failure. Fear of loneliness. Fear of a wasted life. Fear of failing to know God. Faith begins when you see God on the mountain and you are in the valley and you know that you're too weak to make the climb. You see what you need . . . you see what you have . . . and what you have isn't enough to accomplish anything. Moses had a sea in front and an enemy behind. The Israelites could swim or they could fight. But neither option was enough. Naaman had tried the cures and consulted the soothsayers. Traveling a long distance to plunge into a muddy river made little sense when there were clean ones in his backyard. But what option did he have? Paul had mastered the Law. He had mastered the system. But one glimpse of God convinced him that sacrifices and symbols were not enough. The Jerusalem church knew that they had no hope of getting Peter out of prison. They had Christians who would fight, but too few. They had clout, but too little. They didn't need muscle. They needed a miracle. So did Peter. He had given it his best. But his best wasn't enough. He was aware of two facts: he was going down, and Jesus was staying up. He knew where he would rather be. There is nothing wrong with his response. Faith that begins with fear will end up nearer the Father.
Reprinted (with adaptation) from In the Eye of the Storm, Max Lucado, (c)1991, Word Publishing, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
NOTE: The stories of these Bible heroes are located in the following Scripture portions: Peter, Matthew 14:22-33; Moses, Exodus, 14:5-31; Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-15; Paul, Romans 3:21-28; Jerusalem believers, Acts 12:1-17
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