But when he [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Matt.14:30-31 Is your life, church, family, ministry or community at the crisis state? If so, you may have reached the place where your creativity, ideas, and efforts have experienced its maximum. At some point, you must forget the flight plan, see the new mission you must launch and prepare for a new order of things. You'll see what I mean in a minute. "Houston, we have a problem." This famous quote was spoken by astronaut Jim Lovell from Apollo 13 in outer space. We now hear it every day. About 50+ hours into the mission a cryogenic tank exploded causing loss of oxygen and power to the command module. From that moment, the mission’s success was in jeopardy. "Failure is not an option," Gene Kranz, flight director for Mission Control, said to the ground crew in Houston.
You see, Peter’s boat was sinking – “Houston, we have a problem”. Twelve men were no match for one storm. Their physical limits were exhausted. The more they tried to fix the situation the worst things became. Sound familiar? With limited resources, unknown odds and uncontrollable forces it appears as though all hope was lost. In walks Jesus, literally. He is walking on the water. The disciples did not recognize Him. They thought He was a ghost. Thank God, Jesus came with a message of peace, power and potential, “Be of good cheer; It is I, be not afraid."
At that moment impulsive Peter says, “Lord, if that is really you, bid me to come.” Peter is thinking, we’re sinking and He’s standing. Once Jesus bids Peter to come, the mission changed. Jesus is now the destination! WOW! Perhaps that’s why things aren't working the way they should. On Apollo 13, "Forget the flight plan," Gene Kranz ordered. "From this moment on we are improvising a new mission.” What started out as an undergraduate course in “Weathering The Storm 101”, led to an graduated course in “Water Walking 501” and culminated in a Kairos crash course Doctorate Intensive on “Catching Your Destiny”.
Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water towards Destiny. Consequently, the storm escalates in intensity causing Peter to shift his eyes away from Jesus to the boisterous wind. Thus, he began to sink. But, “Failure is not an Option”. Peter has walk so far away from the boat, he is now closer to his destination than his origin. In fact he is so close, although sinking, his Destiny catches him! Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
Life is not predictable. There's no manuscript for where God has you in this season. You are out of the boat now and you are too close to destiny to turn around. Satan has triggered the winds to heighten in effort to stop you. But unknown to him (and maybe you) is everything you have gone through has positioned so close to your destiny that "Failure is not an option". What you are going through right now can not stop you because the gravitational pull of God’s grace is reaching out to catch you. Say with me right now, “I’m too close!”
Prayer Father, I thank you for the sensitivity to see the new mission. I see now life is not a contest of physical or intellectual prowess. It is about making You my destination. I confess at times I’m sinking while I say I’m standing. Lord, Save Me! In Jesus Name, Amen.
Go Deeper? Matt. 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-51; Luke 1:37; John 6:16-21; Rom. 10:10-15; Gal. 5:7; Hebrews 11
You see, Peter’s boat was sinking – “Houston, we have a problem”. Twelve men were no match for one storm. Their physical limits were exhausted. The more they tried to fix the situation the worst things became. Sound familiar? With limited resources, unknown odds and uncontrollable forces it appears as though all hope was lost. In walks Jesus, literally. He is walking on the water. The disciples did not recognize Him. They thought He was a ghost. Thank God, Jesus came with a message of peace, power and potential, “Be of good cheer; It is I, be not afraid."
At that moment impulsive Peter says, “Lord, if that is really you, bid me to come.” Peter is thinking, we’re sinking and He’s standing. Once Jesus bids Peter to come, the mission changed. Jesus is now the destination! WOW! Perhaps that’s why things aren't working the way they should. On Apollo 13, "Forget the flight plan," Gene Kranz ordered. "From this moment on we are improvising a new mission.” What started out as an undergraduate course in “Weathering The Storm 101”, led to an graduated course in “Water Walking 501” and culminated in a Kairos crash course Doctorate Intensive on “Catching Your Destiny”.
Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water towards Destiny. Consequently, the storm escalates in intensity causing Peter to shift his eyes away from Jesus to the boisterous wind. Thus, he began to sink. But, “Failure is not an Option”. Peter has walk so far away from the boat, he is now closer to his destination than his origin. In fact he is so close, although sinking, his Destiny catches him! Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
Life is not predictable. There's no manuscript for where God has you in this season. You are out of the boat now and you are too close to destiny to turn around. Satan has triggered the winds to heighten in effort to stop you. But unknown to him (and maybe you) is everything you have gone through has positioned so close to your destiny that "Failure is not an option". What you are going through right now can not stop you because the gravitational pull of God’s grace is reaching out to catch you. Say with me right now, “I’m too close!”
Prayer Father, I thank you for the sensitivity to see the new mission. I see now life is not a contest of physical or intellectual prowess. It is about making You my destination. I confess at times I’m sinking while I say I’m standing. Lord, Save Me! In Jesus Name, Amen.
Go Deeper? Matt. 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-51; Luke 1:37; John 6:16-21; Rom. 10:10-15; Gal. 5:7; Hebrews 11