The decision to come to Jesus Christ cannot be an intellectual one. That is impossible. We are not signing a contract. There is no quid pro quo. The decision to join with him must come from the heart. It is an experiential decision. The moment when one comes to Jesus and wants to join with him is better described as responding to his invitation. He invites us to come to him and it is up to us to respond. 

This moment of choosing is vividly dramatized when Jesus approached the boat in which his disciples were fighting their way through a terrible storm in the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 14:22-33) They had left Jesus on the shore several hours before at his request. They were making their way back to Capernaum in the boat that had taken them and were rowing in the midst of a storm. The weather was terrible. There was darkness, high waves and fierce winds. They had been at hard work rowing for several hours and we’re making little headway. 

As they fought at the oars, a strange light approached their boat. As it got closer, it appeared to be Jesus walking on the water. They became afraid as anyone would. 

Jesus spoke to them, saying “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) 

Of course it was Peter that spoke up, he always spoke up first it seems. 

Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” 

(Matthew 14:28) 

Jesus responded to Peter quickly, “Come!” 

Jesus had given Peter a command to come. Now it was Peter’s turn  to make a decision. He had been on this sea as a fisherman all of his life. He also knew how to swim. He knew the dangers he faced if he stepped out of that boat. He knew even the best swimmer would die in these conditions. It was a situation he had never faced. 

He had received a command from Jesus, and the only way to obey that command was through an act of faith. He did not even think of the darkness, the waves or the wind. He did not even think of the danger. He got out of the boat. He responded to his Lord in faith. Jesus said come to me and Peter got out of the boat in faith. He saw nothing else but his Lord and he came to him as he was asked to. 

It is still that way today. When Jesus gives us a command, it creates a faith opportunity. It is then our turn to respond. He waits for us to respond. He can do no more. We have to get out of the boat and come to him. 

The decision to come to Jesus Christ cannot be an intellectual one. That is impossible. We are not signing a contract. There is no quid pro quo. The decision to join with him must come from the heart. It is an experiential decision. The moment when one comes to Jesus and wants to join with him is better described as responding to his invitation. He invites us to come to him and it is up to us to respond. 

This moment of choosing is vividly dramatized when Jesus approached the boat in which his disciples were fighting their way through a terrible storm in the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 14:22-33) They had left Jesus on the shore several hours before at his request. They were making their way back to Capernaum in the boat that had taken them and were rowing in the midst of a storm. The weather was terrible. There was darkness, high waves and fierce winds. They had been at hard work rowing for several hours and we’re making little headway. 

As they fought at the oars, a strange light approached their boat. As it got closer, it appeared to be Jesus walking on the water. They became afraid as anyone would. 

Jesus spoke to them, saying “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27) 

Of course it was Peter that spoke up, he always spoke up first it seems. 

Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” 

(Matthew 14:28) 

Jesus responded to Peter quickly, “Come!” 

Jesus had given Peter a command to come. Now it was Peter’s turn  to make a decision. He had been on this sea as a fisherman all of his life. He also knew how to swim. He knew the dangers he faced if he stepped out of that boat. He knew even the best swimmer would die in these conditions. It was a situation he had never faced. 

He had received a command from Jesus, and the only way to obey that command was through an act of faith. He did not even think of the darkness, the waves or the wind. He did not even think of the danger. He got out of the boat. He responded to his Lord in faith. Jesus said come to me and Peter got out of the boat in faith. He saw nothing else but his Lord and he came to him as he was asked to. 

It is still that way today. When Jesus gives us a command, it creates a faith opportunity. It is then our turn to respond. He waits for us to respond. He can do no more. We have to get out of the boat and come to him.