“Do Something” is the second segment in the Daring Faith series. This lesson takes us to the account in Scripture when Jesus walks on the water in the midst of the storm (Matthew 14:22–33). Peter, seeing Jesus, said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water,” (Matthew 14:28, KJV). It is here, we see faith in action and Peter’s desire to do something.
People take action in their life in many circumstances for a variety of reasons—tragedy, passion, duty, or fear. However, when it comes to daring faith, we do not take action due to any of these reasons. We step outside our comfort zone when it comes to serving the Lord because of the great things that will happen. Life may bring much uncertainty, but when we get to the end of any road with the Lord, there is nothing in this world that will compare to the awesome outcome we’ll experience with Him!
Doing Something to Get to Him
Life teaches us to take cover in the middle of the storm. On an open sea, the best place for us to stay is in the heart of a ship. Peter didn’t consider this option when he saw Jesus. Peter wanted to step out of the boat, into the storm, into the arms of Jesus.
When Peter asked the Lord to bid him to come onto the water (Matthew 14:28), Jesus answered his ambition for opportunity. Peter probably knew he would be safe if he stayed in the boat, but he wondered what would happened if he just stepped out. It doesn’t matter if we’re in the middle of the storm, or safe on dry land, the Lord will do a work. That work will happen only when we take a step to meet Him.
Doing Something Over There
We have too many preconceived notions about how the Lord will bless us or deliver us from a given situation. We cannot paint God into a corner, but allow Him to work in the way He sees fit. He’s calling His children today to step outside of the safety of the “boat” and come to Him. We can do great things in God’s Kingdom, but greater things if we step outside the norm or what we know. Peter realized that it wasn’t just there in the boat he could see the Lord work, but there out on the water.
Doing Something Requires Faith
Whether we’ve decided to traverse on dry land or on the water in our walk with the Lord, we cannot start our journey without faith. Every person has been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). This measure of faith is enough to step out of our “boat” and get to the Lord. But, it is only after we make it to the Lord that something supernatural can truly happen.
Scripture tells us Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him” (KJV). God will always reward those who step out of the boat and seek out His presence and His will for their life.
Doing Something Requires an Action
Peter didn’t know what would happen when he stepped out of the boat, but he had faith—he exercised that faith because he lived it. He didn’t say he had faith, he put it into action (Romans 1:16–17). Every step that he took was undefined, but God met him with every step. He did just “think” about having faith in God or talked about “believing” in God. He did something.
Scripture reminds us that it’s not enough to just believe in the Lord because even the demons in hell believe and tremble. If we aren’t willing to put our faith into action and complete a work for the Lord’s kingdom, quite simply, our faith is dead (James 2:19–20). We may have to step out into something that is uncomfortable. If we’re looking for a miracle, it won’t happen in the boat!
Doing Something for God
We need to remember that daring faith doesn’t just ask for an answer from God—it becomes part of the solution. God doesn’t need a great church or a great program. God needs a kingdom full of people who are willing to do something. In Job 29, Job makes mention that he helped those who could not help themselves, and did a work when someone else could not do it, or would not do it. God needs people who say, “Yes Lord, I’ll do something.” We can get out of our boats today, exercise our faith, and do something for the Kingdom of God.