“Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him (Peter)” (Matt 14.31).
Peter can now sing along with the Psalmist: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear…though the waters thereof roar and be troubled” (Psa 46:1-3).
Here the wonderful love of Jesus is manifested. It was not Peter who stretched forth his hands, but Jesus. It was not Peter who caught Jesus, but Jesus Who caught Peter. Dear child of God, this is exactly what Jesus has done for us. When we were drowning in the sea of sin, sickness and sufferings, Jesus approached us and stretched out His hands, and caught us.
After Jesus caught Peter, both of them started walking on the water – no more danger of drowning and no more fear! First Peter tried walking alone on the water and failed. Without the helping hand of Jesus holding us, we can never live above our trials and troubles. Now, with Jesus holding his hands, Peter is able to walk on the water triumphantly. What was the secret that kept Peter above the waters? The promise, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27). Wouldn’t Peter have been thrilled to find the everlasting arms underneath his feet? When we believe that Jesus has caught our hand we will be walking over our trials and will never have the fear of drowning.
St. Paul said that he was pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God, to seize that for which he was seized.“Not as though I had already attained… but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12, 13). Dear reader, do you know WHY the Lord has caught you!
Here the wonderful love of Jesus is manifested. It was not Peter who stretched forth his hands, but Jesus. It was not Peter who caught Jesus, but Jesus Who caught Peter. Dear child of God, this is exactly what Jesus has done for us. When we were drowning in the sea of sin, sickness and sufferings, Jesus approached us and stretched out His hands, and caught us.
After Jesus caught Peter, both of them started walking on the water – no more danger of drowning and no more fear! First Peter tried walking alone on the water and failed. Without the helping hand of Jesus holding us, we can never live above our trials and troubles. Now, with Jesus holding his hands, Peter is able to walk on the water triumphantly. What was the secret that kept Peter above the waters? The promise, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27). Wouldn’t Peter have been thrilled to find the everlasting arms underneath his feet? When we believe that Jesus has caught our hand we will be walking over our trials and will never have the fear of drowning.
St. Paul said that he was pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God, to seize that for which he was seized.“Not as though I had already attained… but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12, 13). Dear reader, do you know WHY the Lord has caught you!
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion
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