09/04/2026
Thoughts for Worship
September 6, 2026
Don’t lose sight of Christ in the walk of faith
Matthew 14:28–31 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?”
Jesus instructed His disciples to get in a boat and cross the Sea of Galilee while He remained on a mountainside to pray. Well into the night, Jesus made His way across the Sea, walking on the water. The disciples were impeded on their journey by wind and waves. As Jesus nears the boat, the disciples are afraid because they think Jesus is a ghost. To calm their fears, Jesus identifies Himself. Reassured by Jesus' words, Peter is emboldened to ask Jesus to invite him to come to Jesus on the water, and Jesus does. Peter’s willingness to leave the boat and walk to Jesus on the water is an incredible act of faith and boldness. None of the other disciples made the request. As Peter approached Jesus, he was distracted by the wind and waves and began to sink. In desperation, Peter cried out to Jesus. Jesus secured Peter and brought him safely into the boat, and immediately the wind and waves ceased.
The question Jesus asked Peter after Jesus secured him on the water is, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” We can all answer this question. He was on the surface of the water, buffeted by wind and waves. Walking on water is a natural impossibility. Because Peter loses his focus on his dependence on Jesus, he begins to think about what he’s doing rather than on the power of the One who asked him to come. We can all cheer for Peter because he at least had the gumption to step out of the boat and walk toward Jesus. However, Peter’s wavering faith in Christ and resurfacing self-reliance would have been a deadly error if not for Christ's merciful grasp.
This brings to mind two verses in Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. Galatians 1:6: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel…” and Galatians 5:7–8: “7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.” The Galatians, like Peter, start the walk of faith well with a firm and fixed focus on faith alone in Christ alone. But the wind and waves of legalistic Judaizers draw their attention from Christ and put it back on personal performance. Paul’s statements are much like the words of the Lord to Peter: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone is completely supernatural. All attempts to augment our gracious salvation by self-centered determination and effort are deadly distractions. Child of God, stay focused on Jesus and the precious promises of His words to you. As a verse in the old gospel hymn, Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus, composed by George Duffield says, “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone; the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own.”
Don’t lose sight of Christ in the walk of faith.
