Getting Back to CHRIST

Matthew 14:28 - 31 "And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

     Why is it that we seem to struggle so much getting back to CHRIST? We start off a new life as Christians. And we make a couple little mistakes and we tell GOD we're sorry and we go on. But sooner or later we goof up pretty bad. And when we do we seem to wallow in it. Instead of turning back to CHRIST in repentance we tell ourselves, or let the devil tell us, that we went too far. We believe we are unforgivable. We think we totally blew it. This same thought keeps many people from turning to CHRIST in the first place.

     But in LUKE 5:32 CHRIST said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

     And many people feel like GOD wouldn't take them back. But in John 8:35 CHRIST also said, "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever."

     And as adopted children of GOD we are HIS sons and daughters through CHRIST. In other words, once you are in the family you will not get kicked out.
     So go back and look at the scripture from Matthew 14. Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on the water. Everyone likes to pick on Peter for looking away and sinking. But I won't do that. I'm impressed with what Peter did. First of all, he was the only one in the boat who had enough faith to get out and walk on the water. And secondly, he had enough sense to realize he was sinking and to quickly cry out to CHRIST.
     Now look at the response of CHRIST. Was it to watch Peter sink a little before helping him? No. Was it to put HIS foot out and kick Peter away? No. Did HE yell, "Swim Peter!" No. Yes CHRIST asked Peter why he doubted. But that was after HE "immediately" reached out and picked him up. CHRIST is compassionate. HE knew Peter goofed. HE knows we will goof. But when we do HE will help us just like HE did Peter. So what does it take for us to learn that it's not about our performance in HIM? It is about HIS performance in us.

     I hope you are greatly encouraged.
     Peace and blessings,
     Shannon