JESUS, THE WORD

 Betty Hadden, Oregon

The Bible says that the word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (Psalms 119:105). That His Word is alive and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb. 4:12 Amp.)  John 1:1 says that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made by Him (the Word) and without Him was not anything made that was made.

Jesus said that the Kingdom of God comes not with observation for the Kingdom of God is within you. Jesus said in Mark 4 that the sower sows the Word. Mark 4:26 says that "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground. . . ." Colossians 1 says that when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord, we are then translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His Love.

So how important is spending time in the Word of God? How important is it that we each become sowers of the Word of God? In Psalms the Bible says that unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.

There’s a parable about the person whose house (life) was built on the rock and the one whose house was built on the sand. The same tests and trials, the same violent storms, came against both houses, but only one was not destroyed. That was the one that both "heard" and "did" the Word of God. The one that only heard the Word but did not obey it (do it), his house was destroyed.

There have been many times, especially lately, when I have heard the same enemy we all have heard screaming in my ears that all the time I have spent pouring the word into my life has been an utter waste of time! Over and over, he has been showing me "in the natural" how seemingly fruitless my life has been because I wasted it by pouring it out before My Lord.

But, do you know what? When Peter walked on the water, what was it that made him "begin" to drown? The verses preceding his stepping out of the boat show us they were already in a violent storm at sea.

As I have read these verses of scripture, I have perceived Peter and the others as being full of fear and anxiety as they tried to keep their boat (their life) from sinking. I see them in the darkness of the night, violent winds and tossing waves causing their boat to go to and fro, as waters poured into it from the raging sea. I can almost see them as they hurriedly tried to dump out the water that threatened to sink their boat. .

And then their attention became riveted on Jesus walking towards them on the waters, and they cried out in more fear! But when Jesus identified Himself to them, it was Peter that said, "Lord, if it be you, bid me come."  Peter’s attention became focused on Jesus. Jesus said, "Come." We know that then Peter was able to do the impossible when He focused on the words of Jesus and obeyed them.

The Bible goes on to tell us that when Peter changed his focus, got his eyes off Jesus (the Word), got his attention "back on" the storm that had been there all along, then he began to sink. Ever wonder about how someone "begins" to sink? I would say that if I stepped out on the water, I wouldn’t "begin" to sink! I’d just sink!

So there is a greater truth here than what meets the eye. As long as Peter kept His eyes on the Lord, on the Word of God, then he was no longer fearful. He was no longer full of anxious thought, fearing for his life. Instead, he was full of courage, full of faith, and being focused on the Word, on Jesus, he was able to go forward "regardless" of the natural circumstances. Obviously, his faith in Jesus, in the Word, gave substance to that which in the natural had no substance, and he was able to walk towards Jesus.

The fact there was a storm had no bearing on his ability to go forward toward Jesus walking on the water because he wasn’t looking at the storm. He wasn’t looking at the problems. He wasn’t looking at the circumstances. He wasn’t looking at his feelings. He wasn’t even allowing his mind to "give him an opinion" as to whether or not he could do what he was about to do.

It was only when he focused on the natural that his faith began to sink. That was what "began to sink." But as He focused on the answer, on the Word, on Jesus, he succeeded in doing what no other man had ever done except Jesus. He walked on top of the water! The account, thank God, doesn’t end with Peter beginning to sink:

Matthew 14

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. (KJV)

I want to encourage you today that regardless of what your five senses are screaming at you about, your faith in the Word will uphold you. Jesus is there with you, hears your cries, and immediately is answering them, helping you to a place where you can stand confident again!

So many, many have not understood why it was so important to give their time with Him in the Word first priority--to make Him the first and most important in their lives. Perhaps, you’re one of those that didn’t but are now realizing your error. If you’ll change your focus now and reach out for Him, for the Word, I can assure you, He will respond and walk you back to where you can also stand in faith.

It isn’t easy, this water-walking business, but it’s entirely necessary, especially in the times we’re living in now