What Are Your Distractions?

There are several important lessons to learn from the events following Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000. Not least of which is the fact that Jesus told them to go to the other side of the lake, and even though they were obeying Him, a storm buffeted them and hindered them from doing what He had told them to do. But I digress.

What stands out the most to me is that Peter actually walked on water, at least for a moment. It wasn’t until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind that he began to sink. Let God speak to your heart as you read His Word, today.

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-32 NIV

The wind was real and it was terrifying, but until Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind, he was walking on water! Wow! That’s something to contemplate.

What are the distractions in our lives today? What causes us to take our eyes off the Savior? They may be real, like the wind and storm, but they are still only distractions. Fear comes when we take our eyes off of Jesus. But nothing can separate us from the love of God.

³⁵ “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^[a]

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 35-39 NIV Read full chapter

No matter what you are facing today, keep your eyes on Jesus. Fear comes when we are distracted. Unbelief follows fear. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, we will make it through the storm and arrive safely at our destination.

The difference between faith and fear is focus.”

David Jeremiah, Pastor

Where is your focus?

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

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