While the disciples were in a boat crossing the sea, they encountered a storm. It was before the sun was out and the disciples see Jesus walking across the water. They think it is a ghost but eventually realize who it is. Peter then gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water towards Jesus. The Bible says, “30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Matt. 14:30). Notice this verse begins by telling us what Peter saw, the winds. He took his eyes off of the Lord. Now it is impossible to walk on water during a storm. In fact it is still impossible to walk on water during a clear blue day. Here it was not about the waves, but it was about how Peter took his focus off of Christ. This is what happens to us as believers. We take our focus and place it on something other than Christ.
Many Christians try to muster enough strength to love God. They try and try to love God but it always feels like it is not enough. My friend the Bible says, “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). It is the very fact that we are conscious of this love that we will love God. God is the initiator. Now we love Him because He took the first step. The way to love God more is to understand and focus on how much God loves you.
Like Peter when we become worried with too many things, we can lose what God has for us in this moment. We can see all of the storms and waves and become distracted from God’s love for us. Many people place the emphasis on our love for the Lord. The true focus should be on God’s love for us. In these moments where we are conscious of God’s love for us, we will love God more. Remember, “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).
Anytime you see the words, “G3” this will indicate that the message was taken from an article I wrote for my local newspaper, the Bay City Sentinel.