Matthew 14:22-33 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 14:22-33 on biblegateway.com
Verse 22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. Verse 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, Verse 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. Verse 25And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. Verse 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. Verse 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Verse 28Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Verse 29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. Verse 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Verse 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Verse 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Verse 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Devotion
Jesus did not try to do too much. He sent away the crowd following him. He made the disciples go on without him. And then he went off by himself to pray. Jesus left undone some things that mattered, so that he could do what mattered most.
Being busy and harried is common. We might be able to avoid this if we had only to choose between what is important and what is not. But when we are over-scheduled, it is almost always with worthwhile things. It’s hard to say no to things that matter to us.
What happens, then, is that things that matter leave no time for things that matter most.
What would happen if you took time for the things that matter most before doing things that merely matter? Why not try it for a week to see what happens? Jesus did it. How about you?
Prayer
Dear God, let the things Jesus did – and didn’t do – guide our decisions about how we use the time you give us. Amen.