Stepping Out

Duane Vander Klok

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:28-33

How can you grow in faith? Well, Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Reading, hearing, and meditating on the Word causes faith to rise in your heart like a fountain that bubbles over. But too often people are saved and baptized but then stop there—they forget to keep growing in their walk with God. They may have been saved for fifty years but still have the faith of a newborn believer. Faith is not only what you believe, faith causes action.

Like a muscle, your faith becomes stronger when you exercise it. When Peter stepped out of the boat to walk on the waves toward Jesus, he was moved by faith. Peter’s faith certainly grew that day! Without that first step, Peter would not have seen the greatness and faithfulness of God work through him.

Notice that even demons believe in Jesus, but you are called to act on what you believe. If your faith does not change how you think and what you do, it is not Bible faith. Faith can move mountains, but first it has to move you.

And growing your faith does not happen overnight. It requires stepping out in faith time and again. Faith hears from God, fights the good fight, receives from God, resists the temptations of the devil, sacrifices selflessly, and loves unconditionally. When you hear Jesus calling, it’s time to step out of the boat!