The Dilemma
For "2nd Generation Christians" (and long-time believers), our faith often feels like a paradox: We are familiar with the faith, but we are not familiar with God. While others share dramatic testimonies of encounter, we often feel stuck in routine, leading to envy, doubt, and spiritual indifference.
The Key Question
How do we turn intellectual knowledge into personal experience? How do we move from a faith that is inherited to a faith that is alive?
The Biblical Solution
In Matthew 14, while the disciples were trapped in a storm, Jesus walked out to them. While eleven disciples stayed in the boat—paralyzed by the logic of safety—Peter did something different. He didn't have more faith or a better background than the others; he simply had a different posture.
Peter experienced the miracle because of two things:
- A Request: He didn’t wait for Jesus to force a miracle; he initiated it. "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you."
- A Desire: His hunger for proximity to Jesus was greater than his desire for security. He realized the safest place was not the dry boat, but on the waves with his Savior.
The Application
Our faith journey can be a series of water-walking events.
- The Mindset Shift: We must move from Passive Observation ("Waiting for God to move") to Active Initiation ("Asking God to command us").
- The Advantage: Our biblical knowledge gives us more confidence to step out into the unknown.
- The Action: Identify the "storms" around you (a friend in need, a difficult conversation, an opportunity to serve). Instead of offering polite empathy, step out and offer prayer or invitation. Risk the awkwardness to see the power of God.
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