“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:28-33
“If a drunkard signs the pledge, or a rich man gives all his money away, they are both of them freeing themselves from their slavery to alcohol or riches, but not from their bondage to themselves. They are still moving in their own little orbit, perhaps even more than they were before. They are still subject to the commandment of works, still as submerged in the death of the old life as they were before. Of course, the work has to be done, but of itself it can never deliver them from death, disobedience, and ungodliness…
Nevertheless the external work must be done, for we still have to find our way into the situation where faith is possible. We must take a definite step. What does this mean? It means that we can only take this step aright if we fix our eyes not on the work we do, but on the word with which Jesus calls us to do it. Peter knows he dare not climb out of the ship in his own strength-his very first step would be his undoing.
And so he cries, “Lord, bid me come to thee upon the waters,” and Jesus answers: “Come.” Christ must first call him, for the step can only be taken at his word. This call is his grace, which calls him out of death into the new life of obedience. But when once Christ has called him, Peter has no alternative-he must leave the ship and come to him. In the end, the first step of obedience proves to be an act of faith in the word of Christ.
But we should completely misunderstand the nature of grace if we were to suppose that there was no need to take the first step, because faith was already there. Against that we must boldly assert that the step of obedience must be taken before faith can be possible. Unless he obeys, a man cannot believe.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in The Cost of Discipleship (New York: Macmillan, 1979) 71-72. Click here to download this classic work.
We turn this week to see what is needful for growing in Christian generosity from Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Today we learn that a giving away great riches does not save us from our death, disobedience, and ungodliness, only obedience to Jesus does. Without obedience a person cannot believe.
Jesus cares not what you say you think or believe. Your actions show what you believe.
Regarding generosity, we either live like we believe God supplies all good things to enjoy and share or we don’t. Our bank accounts and giving statements show whether or not we believe.
I hope this rocks your world today, in good kind of way. You will thank me in the eternal kingdom.
Is it time for you to step out of the boat. If Jesus is calling you to put your trust in him instead of money, don’t you think he will make sure you won’t sink. You will never know or believe until you obey.
He’s good. He’s faithful. And He’s calling you. “Come.”