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“Step of faith,” it’s a phrase we sling around all the time in the Christian world. Still, do we truly understand it? Let’s take a little time and look at where it all started. You see, in Matthew, we learn of how Jesus walked up his disciples. However, it’s how He did so that was so amazing. See, they were in a boat fighting a heavy storm, strong winds knocking the boat all over the water. They looked out and saw something walking the waves, headed their way.
At first glance they were afraid, thinking it was a ghost. “But Jesus spoke out to them at once. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘Take courage. I am here!’” (Matthew 114:27 NLT)
When they heard this, Peter told Him that if was really Him, for Jesus to tell Peter to walk to Christ. Jesus never missed a beat and told Peter to “come.” The amazing thing is that Peter actually walked the waves. It wasn’t until he took his eyes of the Messiah that he started to sink.
You see, in life, we are often asked to “come.” We will look around and see that the waves are crashing around us, dark skies all around. We are standing on the edge of our “boat,” looking out to Jesus wondering if we will sink or walk the waves with Him. Can we make it out to Jesus? We are filled with fear and doubt, He seems so far away.
Since 1999 I’ve fought and waited for God to call me to start a ministry. I’ve waited, staring at the waves getting higher and higher. For 12 years I’ve prayed that today would be the day that He said, “come.” Finally, a few months ago, I heard it. Not just me, but several others as well. We had a choice to make. Do we look at the waves and worry about the storms that will surround us or do we take a step of faith and travel the waves along with our Christ? Long story short, Xtreme Fire Ministries inc was born.
Yes to this day, even after 12 years of God doing the impossible in my life, the waves often seem far to high to walk on. Life seems so hard, so impossible to fight, that at times it looks so much easier to give in and quit. Still, I look back to how it all started between God and myself. How TX1 started down this road of ministry. I remember the car wreck and the miracles that He gave me. To this day, He still is doing the impossible in so many peoples lives.
There comes a point in all our lives where we are given that hard choice; walk the waves along with Jesus, or stay in our boat and wait for the storms to pass. Those of us here at Xtreme Fire can tell you first hand, that while dark skies may surround you and the waves crash at you feet, if you follow Christ you can walk the white caps! Faith can do many things in our lives. It all starts, it all ends, and it all is centered on Christ. Everything in life can be faced with Jesus leading the way.
There is no magic answer, no easy way to help anyone decide what or how do make that choice. There is no advice that will even make the choice easier. Still, I can tell you that the waves are never as bad as they look. Life is never as hard as it seems.
There will be many times where we will fall and sink. Peter, in the Bible, took his eyes off Jesus and started to sink. Still, just like Christ did with Peter, He will come up to us and help us back up. Truth be told, the closer you walk to Jesus, the rougher life may get. It’s when we are right on His feet, right behind the Messiah, that the waves of life seem to get rougher. Take comfort, however, it is far safer to be right there with Jesus Christ in the raging storm than it is to be facing it alone.
So, here it is, my question to you all. Will you take that step of faith? When the Messiah calls out to you, “Come!,” what will you do? Will you take a deep breath, and step out on blind faith and walk with Him or will you stay safely in your boat? If we keep our eyes on the Lord, if we can stay focused on the blood of Christ, we can walk the white caps and the raging seas right there beside Him. Faith is an amazing thing, if we can learn to use it.
