When Peter lost his focus in the storm, he was distracted by fear (Matthew 14:22-33). Fear and faith can not operate on the same path. Walk on water through every distraction by faith until you get to Christ in all situations. It doesn't matter what type of storm or how vicious the waves are, keep pushing through to Christ. Don't allow your focus to stray to the left or right. Distractions are an opportunity to focus on Christ in that particular area. When following Christ and walking the narrow path, there can be many different types of distraction to detour you such as emotions, temptations, social media, friends, bills, debt, financial struggles, marital problems, health issues, discrimination, injustice, unlawful business practices along with a host of other distractions. These are not our battle, but the Lords and we have to submit them to him. For example, as I am in my process of taking up my cross (Matthew 16:24-26), and distractions are present to prune or burn off unproductive behaviors in my life.
When I got into a disagreement, I found myself saying unkind words to the person. At that moment, my emotions were in charge and not the mind of Christ. I was allowing my flesh to lead me. I had to repent by turning from that behavior. I had to apologize to the person and learn how to submit my emotions to Christ. It was not easy to put emotions under my feet, but it had to be done because the lustful behavior I was demonstrating would want to continue in strife and disagreement which could lead to separation and division from my growth in Christ. I had to be stable in all my ways and that includes emotions. I did not want to continue to operate in a double-mind (James 1:8). My emotions was producing a fruit (John 15:1-17) and if I continued down that path I would be severed from the vine and not produce fruit of the spirit "kindness", "love", and "peace" from this situation (Gal. 5:22-23). I have to fix these behaviors through the help of the Holy Spirit to enter into the land God promised.
Distractions came into my life to focus my attention on areas I needed to address that were not like Christ. All the things that the living God did not provide to me were shaken or removed from my life. The process reminded me of going to a tree and shaking it so the fruit will fall off. I could be the holiest person in the world, but if I do not have love or follow Christ commands it profits me nothing in my soul. I am doing it unauthorized by Jesus Christ, and posing as a fake Jesus Christ. When the tree starts shaken by the Lord, you will know the difference in who was authorized by Christ and who wasn't.
Highlighted Scriptures
Matthew 14:22-33
Matthew 16:24-26
James 1:8
John 15:1-17
Galatians 5:22-23
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