water-walkers!

*yawnz* today was such a long day... even after a nap in the evening, i'm still tired. but i can deem today as a fruitful day. sunday school was great! uncle roy taught on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and what its purpose is. after that, pastor irene spoke from matthew 13:25-33. the ever-familiar story of Jesus and the disciples in the boat during a storm and Jesus beckoning Peter to walk on water.

it was faith that stirred Peter to believe and take the first step on the water. despite the storm that was looming, he still could do just that. as the sunday school song goes... "with Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm." Peter was coming face to face with a storm and he was doing something thought to be impossible to anybody.

but as pas irene said, in everything we do, it involves a risk. quoting from eileen guber (1987) which pas irene shared...
"You can live on bland food so as to avoid an ulcer;
drink no tea or coffee or other stimulants in the name of health;
go to bed early and stay away from night life;
avoid all controversial subjects so as never to give offense;
mind your own business and avoid involvement in other people's problems;
spend money only on necessities and save all you can.
But you can still break your neck in the bathtub!"

everything involves a risk, but do we have faith in God? Peter had his faith in Jesus and did the impossible. although he came face to face with the storm and reality started to set in, and eventually he fell into the water. i agree with pastor that at the end of the story, he was the one who was blessed out of this situation. he was going to return home a changed man because of what happened to him. no man in history had managed to walk on water and he did! something that seemed impossible, yet he was able to do it. as for the other 11 disciples who just stayed in the boat and watched the whole incident... my conclusion is that they were "boat potatoes" who would die of boredom and stagnation (because they were unwilling to change their current position) and perhaps starvation (because there wouldn't be enough food in the boat for them forever!).

likewise, as Christians, are we willing to take the step of faith in obedience to God? when we obey and do what God has commanded us to do, although sometimes the task ahead seems daunting and impossible, that is when God can work a miracle in our lives. when we experience it, i'm sure we will never forgot it for the rest of our lives... it becomes our life-changing story and that's when our faith will grow and we can do greater work!

as for non-Christians, if you have gotten this far in my blog entry, thank you for being so patient with my thoughts on something you might not understand. however, as you read what i have wrote, please consider this: are you a "boat potato"? this term is derived from the term "couch potatoes". "boat potatoes" are people who stayed in the boat and refused to take the risk to listen to God. they avoided believing in the spiritual realm and are doubtful of what will actually happen to them. in plain terms, they were afraid of the unknown.

are you a "boat potato" or a water-walker?