Got a minute? I’d like to encourage you from the Word this morning.

Let me set the scene.

It’s a dark and stormy night and the boys are out on the Sea of Galilee struggling to stay afloat. Jesus is walking on the water.

After the initial shock of the whole thing, Peter calls out,

“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (Matthew 14:28, 31)

Jesus tells him to “Come,” and Peter heads out on the water.

Note – Jesus said of Himself, “I only do what I see the Father do.” (John 5:19) Now Peter is determined to do what He sees the Master do, and Jesus is willing and able to make this happen.

But the thing that caught my heart this morning was a little phrase down further.

Peter walks on the water – we don’t know how far, but he was moved by faith in the Word of the Master, “Come,” and off he goes. Then he sees the wind and waves and takes his eyes off Jesus. 

And here comes my word for the day.

Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him … – Matthew 14:31 NASB

The Lord said to me this morning:

When you step out in faith, 
imitating Me, 
doing the things you’ve seen Me do,
and you find yourself in trouble,
be it distractions or persecutions, 
I’ll stretch out My hand and take hold of you.
So when you see me on the water,
don’t stay in the boat,
Come and follow me.

I just love that Jesus took hold of Peter. This take hold is the same root word we see in John 1:11,

He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, – John 1:11-12 NASB

And in Mark 11:24

“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. – Mark 11:24 NASB

The way Jesus took hold of a sinking Peter, is the way we lay hold of Jesus for salvation and the way we receive anything from Him by faith.

Jesus took hold of Peter and rescued Him from the story water. He’ll reach out and rescue you as you follow Him with abandon today.