Worship in a Boat.
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for your ultimate generosity in loving me. Change my heart from a selfish heart to a giving and trusting heart. Amen.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there all alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from the land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
REFLECT:
Peter was a sopping wet mess in the boat, fresh out of the water into which He had sunk. He had wanted to be part of the miracle where Jesus was. But in his sinking, Jesus' miracle was even more miraculous.
The first thing the disciples did when Jesus and Peter got into the boat was worship Jesus. Peter was cold and wet and a heaping pile of soggy tunic at Jesus' feet, while Jesus stood perfectly dry.
What must it have been like to listen to his friends worship the Son of God and Savior Peter had just fully experienced? He must have known that the eyes of his friends were fixed on Jesus, because unlike before, now Peter's were, too.
The disciples exclaimed, "You really are the Son of God!" The disciples once again recognized and declared the deity of Jesus. The proper response to Jesus was to worship him and still is today.
APPLY:
The Bible is filled with examples of praise when we see Jesus' power released - life changing miracles, dramatic stories of the enemy being halted or defeated, hearts being changed and drawn closer to him.
Here's what can make a lasting difference. When we make that decision to fix our eyes on him, and daily give him praise, no matter what's staring us straight in the face, we suddenly realize that God has already begun to release the grip of those struggles can have over us.
There's power in our acknowledgement that he is worthy, above all else, of our worship and praise. His spirit urges us onward, to press in close to him being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses worshipping Jesus who lifted us out of the water.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear God, I praise you today with a trusting heart. I praise you for your faithfulness, your great power and love. I struggle and worry, get weary and worn. Yet you never leave me. Thank you for your presence. Draw me close to yourself, and work you purpose through me, as I set my eyes on you. Amen.
WORSHIP: