“Are you living life by the ‘IF’ or in response to the ‘COME?’”
This was a question I posed to about 25 people 15 years ago when GENESIS gathered for the very first time in September of 2009. Our first worship gathering took place in the parking lot of 16 Wheeling Ave. because we had yet to receive a Certificate of Occupancy… and yes, it was raining during our parking lot gathering.
The biblical text we were considering that day was when Jesus walked on the water. All of the disciples saw Jesus coming towards them walking on the water, but it was Peter that asked the “IF” question.
“Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
Matthew 14:28 (NLT)
Living life by the IF often sounds a bit like this…
What IF it doesn’t work out?
What IF I don’t like it?
What IF I look silly and people mock me?
What IF I fail?
What IF God doesn’t come through?
What IF…
Often, the IF is so LOUD and so STRONG that we miss Jesus’ response to our ‘IF.’
“Yes, come,” Jesus said.
Matthew 14:29 (NLT)
There was ZERO explanation as to HOW Peter would walk on the water… just a simple invitation of, ‘COME.’
Ya see, the tragedy on the Sea of Galilee that night was not Peter taking his eyes off of Jesus and sinking into the water… that was a bummer for certain but that was not the big miss of the evening.
The real tragedy that night was that eleven men stayed in the boat. Twelve disciples heard the invitation of, ‘COME’ and only one said, ‘OK.’
Whether Peter walked on the water for 10 seconds or 10 minutes matters not because Peter showed up on the water where Jesus was, and the other eleven, well, the other disciples stayed seated.
I’m not sure what caused the eleven disciples to stay seated that night… maybe fear, maybe uncertainty, or maybe just a lack of clarity. Again, I’m not sure what it was but I do know this… when you live life driven by the ‘IF’ it’s a good chance you won’t hear Jesus says, ‘COME.’
15 years ago, this was a bit of the message I shared with 25 people while we were all getting rained on. And the invitation that day, well, it was pretty simple…
LET’S LIVE LIFE TOGETHER ON THE WATER WITH JESUS
When GENESIS began 15-years ago, there were A LOT of ‘IF’ questions -
What IF this doesn’t work?
What IF no one ever shows up?
What IF the finances never come in?
What IF the LORD doesn’t bless this?
What IF God’s not really in this?
There were countless ‘IF’ questions back in 2009 but thankfully, a handful of people heard Jesus’ invitation to ‘COME’ and 15 years later, well, countless stories of God doing immeasurably more than we could ever have imagined.
Whether you were at that rainy parking lot worship gathering in September of 2009 or you are brand new to the GENESIS community, the invitation is still the same…
LET’S LIVE LIFE TOGETHER ON THE WATER WITH JESUS
It’s easy to think that the safest place that night on the Sea of Galilee was in the confines of the boat… well, it wasn’t. The safest place to be that night was with Jesus on the water. Yes, the storms were raging on the Sea of Galilee but wherever Jesus is… not only is that the best place to be but it’s the safest place to be.
As we turn the corner into another year of walking on the water, let’s continue to keep our eyes fixed and focused on Jesus. I’m not sure of all that we’ll get to see Jesus do with and through our lives (our community) this coming year, but if it’s anything like the past 15 years, well, all I can say is…
‘THANK YOU, JESUS FOR ALLOWING US TO BE WITH YOU WHERE YOU ARE!’
