It May Be As Simple As

We hear a lot of talk about our comfort zone; that’s a place where we fill at ease and secure.  It is easy to get trapped in the comfort zone; you have a job that seems to be secure; or at least you think it is. You have money in the bank, stock market and other places just for your retirement which looks good or at least you think it is. Your in  Church; which is a good place to worship and a place you kind of get involved. Just no real commitments  because that may tie you down and not allow you to do some things you would like too. It’s all called security or the comfort zone. What if the mother bird refused to push her babies out of the nest? What do you think would happen? As each baby gets bigger it would take up more room and the nest would become more crowded. Now the mother bird would have to enlarge the nest to take care of the growing birds. She doesn’t do that so as the baby birds grow they are pushed to the edge and then over the edge where they are forced to either fly or die. Do you know what they do? They decide to fly.  It is easy for you and I to get caught in the comfort zone. Abraham had it made in his comfort zone but had he not been willing to leave the safety and prosperity of a familiar and secure place would we read of him in our Bible? If the disciples had they stayed in their comfort zone they would have just been another bunch of fishermen. One day though they decided to abandon the security of their career for the call of Jesus. Peter would have never known what it was to walk on water if he hadn’t gotten out of the boat. Have you really ever gotten out of the boat and moved beyond all your security blankets; I am not talking about foolish thinking like taking all your money and buying lottery tickets. I’m talking about praying and asking God to lead you. Peter just didn’t jump over board Matthew 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. Matthew 14:29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. You must remember when you leave the comfort zone it’s not always smooth sailing there will be problems you can rest assure.   Matthew 14:30  But when he(Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;   That water was not the within the comfort zone and Peter may have thought to himself “What in the world have I done?”  The reason I say that is because we read that he was afraid and began to sink; have you ever tried to walk on water? If you haven’t you should try it and you will learn very quickly that you don’t begin to sink, you sink! Here is a valuable lesson we can learn; first Peter asked, and Jesus said come and Peter did. Secondly Peter began to walk on the water which tells us that Peter was not just standing around he was going somewhere; toward Jesus. Third thing is that Peter forgot where he was headed and took his eyes off Jesus and began to look around at what was going on around him. Was that not happening before he left the security of the boat? Sure it was so what changed? Peter allowed the sounds and sights around him to distract him from his goal. The same will happen to you and I if we listen to those who refuse to leave the comfort zone. They will say things like “I told you that was going to happen you should have listened to me.” “I didn’t think it would work.” Keep looking at everything going on around you and you to will begin to sink, lose hope, and lose sight. Don’t forget the answer to the sinking problem Peter didn’t  “beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. “ and what did Jesus do?  Matthew 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, When, “immediately “ I like that but that’s not all Jesus did He also had something to say to Peter. Jesus said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? What is it in your life? Are you afraid to step onto the water in fear that you will sink? It may be as simple as going to an old friend and asking them to forgive you. It’s not always packing the family up and moving to China or going to the bank to withdraw all your money and giving it to the poor. It may be using what God has already equipped you with but fear has kept you from using your God given talent. This week ask God where and when and how He wants you to get out of the boat. When He does; move toward it without the fear of what is going on around you. It’s going to be a great week; don’t you think?