He asked to be called.

Reading in Matthew this morning, I sat down to the story of Jesus walking on water. Now, so many times I have heard sermons and teaching on this passage. Many of them focus on the faith Peter had in stepping out of the boat. The leader will talk about the huge amount of faith that we have to have when seeking to follow after Jesus. That's not where I have ever really focused on this story. Sure Peter had great faith, but it wasn't something that he had to muster up to step out of the boat. For him, I imagine, it was just common sense.

I imagine him saying, "Jesus is there, I want to be with him, and so I'll just ask him to call me."

See there has come a point in my life, that if Jesus calls me to do something, it's just common sense to follow that call. Otherwise you're just missing out on a great excitement and adventure that he has planned for you.

But that's not the importance I see in this story. The importance I see is that Peter asked Jesus to call him. Jesus didn't just say to all the disciples, "hey guys, it's really fun out here. Yall should come and join me!" He only called the one who asked him to call. Peter was excited to see Jesus, though maybe a little scared of the circumstances, but the importance isn't in Peter's obedience to the call, but in the desire to be where Jesus was.

For me, there came an overwhelming desire to do whatever God wanted me to do, wherever God wanted me to be, and finally asking Him to send me. It wasn't a matter of being obedient to His call, but rather saying, "I want to be where you are and where you want me to be. So Jesus, please call me."

When I gave up the "normal" life for a young 20-something American, I was excited. I wasn't scared, it was where God wanted me to be, so it meant that the life I was gaining would be full of Him.

Now, after being overseas for a year it can get hard to see the purpose of stepping out of the boat. I get scared of my circumstances. I focus on the turbulent waves around me. What happens if I never meet a guy who wants to get married and live this crazy life? What happens if the gov. thinks I'm breaking the law? What happens if my visa gets denied? How am I going to pay for this next week? Is this life overseas right for me for the rest of my life?

But then, I have to call out to Jesus again. Oh Jesus, grab my had and pull me from the wreckage of my life so that I can glorify you. Over and over again I call to him.

It's all about Him anyways.