How many times have I heard this in my life? How many times have I said it to my children in their lives? There have been too many times to count in both situations. When my boys played baseball, both were very good pitchers. Other than church the ballfield was where we spent most of our time. From time to time, I could see the frustrations building in each one as they struggled to strike out a batter. My words from the stand would be “focus” or “concentrate.” They knew those words meant, step off the plate, say a prayer, get a deep breath, and pay attention to your job. If they were too consumed with a base runner or the thought of a batter hitting a home run, it would hamper their ability to throw strikes. Their focus was the key to the game.
Our focus is also the key to the game of life. It is imperative to our walk with Christ. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:15, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” We are to pay attention to all that is around us. It is too easy to be attacked by the enemy when we are not focusing.
Peter came to understand the importance of focusing when he walked on the water. The disciples and Jesus were very tired after teaching and feeding the multitudes that followed them to hear Jesus. Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side while he sent the multitudes away. He then departed to the mountain to pray. During the night Jesus was ready to rejoin them, but the ship was in the middle of the sea now. No problem for Jesus he just walks on the water to them. Their first response was to think He was a spirit, and they were fearful. Jesus speaks to them and they knew it was Him.
Ambitious Peter asks if he can come to Him, and Jesus bids him come. Peter steps out of the ship and begins to walk on the water. Confident Peter was doing great, but then he took his eyes off Jesus, and he began to sink. He cries out to Jesus and Jesus reaches out His hand to save him.
Matthew 14:22-31 “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening came, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit, and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter came down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
When Peter became confident in what he was doing and began to notice the great feat he had achieved, he started to sink. As long as he had his eyes on Jesus, and what Jesus was doing. he walked on the water.
It is so easy to feel “we’ve got this,” in areas of our life. We take our eyes off the one who is allowing our success, and we begin to feel as if we are in control. If we are to “walk on the water” and glorify God, our confidence can never be in ourselves, but in Christ. If we fail to keep the right focus we too will eventually go down. When our confidence is in ourselves, we sink. When our confidence is in Christ, we walk!
Are you seeking His guidance in all you do or are you living life under your own direction? As a preacher of mine used to say “Keep the main thing, the main thing.”
