Our Spiritual Anchors

His promises are the anchors that keep us from sinking in the waves.

Pictured above: The Thomas family watching our Covenant Connected Chapel last week.

By Clint Fisher, Upper Elementary Principal

I am always encouraged as I read about how Peter “grew up” spiritually throughout his time with Jesus. He wrote two letters toward the end of his life where he captured some of his thoughts for the church and for us today.

He starts his second letter with one of those thoughts: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

To understand what he is saying, it may be helpful to look at a few events in Peter’s life that contributed to the ideas behind his statement.

WHERE IS OUR FAITH?

First, let’s look at the storm on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples got into a boat, started across the sea, and a storm arose that quickly overwhelmed the experienced fishermen. They ran to Jesus for help. His reply is recorded slightly differently in Mathew and Mark, but Luke saw something else in Jesus’ question, “Where is your faith?”

Luke saw that it was not an issue of having faith or the measure of their faith. They had plenty of faith … but it was in the wrong things. They had great faith that the waves would sink their boat. Martin Lloyd Jones said, “It is not the measure of our faith but rather the object of our faith that is the issue.”

WALKING WITH JESUS

Peter learned this lesson, and the next time he reacted very differently. The disciples were in a boat paddling against waves and headwind when they saw a man walking on the water toward them. They were all afraid, but Jesus comforted them by telling them that it was Him on the water. Peter asked Jesus to tell him to come to Him. This is an odd response. Why would he say this? Simply, Peter had moved from walking in the circumstances of his life to walking with Jesus through the circumstances of his life.

OUR ANCHORs

He learned two significant things. First, it is better to walk with Jesus and focus on Him rather than on the circumstances around him. Second, he learned that the way to walk with Jesus was by receiving a promise or command from Him.

The same is true for us. His promises create faith in us, and by faith, we can walk with Jesus. It is not a matter of the strength of our faith but rather the strength of the one who has promised.

Peter did go out. He walked on water. He struggled and got a little wet. However, Jesus was with him and pulled him out of the water. Peter was not worried about the water on his legs but rather the promise that allowed him to walk with Jesus.

His promises are the anchors that keep us from sinking in the waves.

Let us live by those exceedingly great and precious promises. We may find ourselves walking on the water or getting wet. Either way, He will have our hand, and that is how we can rise above our circumstances.