Second Day; Matthew 14; vv 22 - 32

I met with Harold for the first ‘proper’ session with him today. It felt a bit rushed as every time I attempted to sit down to do the half hour meditation in the morning something interrupted. I felt rushed as I also helped Suzette out with Her service of Harvest festival with the staff and children of Wincobank Nursery and Infants School. In the end I did it in two 20 minute slots but it did not feel right and I was feeling a little disjointed.

The main point that I got out of the passage was that even Jesus needed time alone with God, and that if He did, then it is not unreasonable to suggest that we should try and do the same.

Again that simple word, Come was in this passage reminding us that all we are required to do is be obedient, anything else is icing on the cake.

It shows that without Jesus in our lives things are rocky, as in the waves and wind picking up in the passage, it is interesting to note that when Jesus gets in the boat, then the wind and waves die down, this is echoed similarly in several of the other Gospels (cf Matthew 8; vv 23 - 27, Mark 4; vv 35 - 41 & Luke 8; vv 22 - 25).

I wonder what Peter’s motives were for getting out of the Boat? Ego, faith, wanting to be the best disciple? Either way he would have required belief that he could do it and therefore without thinking He jumps in. It is not until he notices the wind and waves that he gets distracted and starts to sink, however, instead of asking for help from the other disciples he cries out to Jesus for help, knowing that in doing so he would be saved. This is something that we all should practice as without Jesus in the centre of our lives we are unable to do the things we are called to do accurately.