A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (July 8, 2015)
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on water toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:29, NLT)
We need out-of-the-boat (box) leaders today. They challenge us and push us to go further than we would have ever gone on our own. Peter is a great example of just such a leader.
In Matthew 14:25-32 (NLT) we read the following:
About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “Take courage, I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink, “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
In John 21:1-8 (NLT) we read the following:
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there – Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.
Now, it is important how you look at a leader like Peter. Some would just concentrate on his failures and point out that he sank after walking on water and that he later denied Jesus three times. I don’t think Jesus looked at Peter that way at all. Think about this. Peter was the only one that ever walked on water except Jesus. Peter was also the only one that jumped out of the boat and swam to shore when he heard it was the Lord. We need out-of-the-boat (box) leaders in the church, in business, and in our government. Yes, they will fail from time to time but their successes will far outweigh their failures and they will push all of us to higher levels. We know, because we have worked alongside one of these type leaders for the last 26 years and we (my wife and I) are far better off for it!!!
It is also important to note that these leaders need good people manning the boat so the boat and the catch is not lost.
Then I said unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of God which was good upon me: as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. (Nehemiah 2:17-18)
