Anyone who drives a car understands how easy it is to drift into another lane when eyes fail to remain focused ahead. Yet even if that occurs, on the freeways there are bumps between the lanes called rumble strips, which can alert the driver if he is slightly off course, or wake him if he is dozing. Focus is the key, as every action is the response of what holds our attention. If we are focused on achieving nothing, we are certain to accomplish exactly that.
God has placed each of us in a world that offers almost an infinite number of items to gain our focus. As Christians, our primary focus needs to remain on Jesus. Certainly, there are many other important aspects of our lives, including our families, jobs and ministries, yet with a primary focus on the Lord, all else can be seen peripherally. Peter gave us one of the greatest biblical examples of the miracles that can occur when our eyes remain focused on Jesus.
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! 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 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Matthew 14:22-31
One of the greatest lessons of Peter walking on water has to do with his failure. Yet a larger lesson is that no one else was willing to step out of the boat. During the time that Peter’s focus remained on Jesus, he was not confined by the natural laws of the earth. When Peter fell beneath the water, Jesus reached down and saved him. We all have boisterous waves in our lives competing for attention, yet with our eyes focused on Jesus, miracles will occur.
Jesus said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt,” but could easily have said to the other disciples, who remained in the boat, “O you of even less faith, why were you unwilling to follow Me?” When our faith wavers, the Lord will stretch out His hand and come to wherever we are to rescue us and lead us back to safety. Listen for the rumble strips. The Holy Spirit will wake you, alert you and remind you that your eyes have drifted from the Son of God. He has a plan and a purpose in your life. Once we have seen Him, why do we desire to look anywhere else? Whatever the Lord has for you to do, do it intensely!
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 6:30
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