When the disciples saw him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. - Matthew 14:26
The disciples “screamed in terror.” Even Peter was frightened. We need to take note of the fact that Peter was not afraid of the storm. Peter, the intrepid fisherman, knew the Sea of Galilee like the back of his hand. He respected her moods and knew she could be very dangerous at times, but he had experienced storms before. He didn’t know, however, if he could handle a ghost!
Have you ever noticed how many folks are totally self-confident until faced with the supernatural? Sometimes we meet people who are not one whit frightened by the storms of life (they’ve been around) but are petrified when presented with the claims of Jesus Christ!
Are you frightened by things you don’t understand? Has someone “put you off” Christianity because they made it sound a bit “spooky”?
Jesus Christ told the disciples not to be afraid of him. He wasn’t a ghost. He was and is God, and you don’t ever need to be afraid of God— unless, of course, you have never asked him to forgive your sins! Then, you have good reason to cry out for fear.
Perhaps it’s time you invited Christ into the boat of your life to handle the storm of your fears about himself. He will forgive your sins. He will bring peace and purpose to your life. You’ll be glad that you met him!
For Further Study: Matthew 14:22-33
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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