“Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus."(Matt. 14:28-29)

Peter may have been the only disciple of Jesus Christ to get out of the boat and walk on water (Matt. 14:29) but he was also the only one who denied Him three times (John 18:26-27). This truth is not to discredit Peter in any way. And neither am I critical of the other disciples who had the good sense to stay in the boat (Matt. 14:26). They did not pretend to have enough faith to be water-walkers.

Over the past two decades, too many have gotten out of the boat under their own calling when they should have stayed in the boat and waited on Jesus. Some have sunk and others are sinking to stinking sin and the trappings of this world.

Many of the righteous and unrighteous are being harmed by their decision. Even Peter talked it over with Jesus before stepping out of the boat. And even Peter took his eyes off Jesus at the first sign of tempest raging again. We should learn from this example: Even when called by God, we have to keep our eyes on God or we, too, will sink.

Disciples of Jesus Christ, stay in the boat until you have talked it over with Jesus, have been summoned and have the faith to walk on water. Be anxious for nothing, including this, for the LORD God will exalt you in due time. It is marvelous you know how to preach but living holy is what God requires. Do not be ashamed of not being a water-walker and neither be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And finally, let God call you — not you, your family or anyone else. He is the One who is there to keep you from stumbling and present you faultless before His glory with exceeding joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Jude 1:24-25).