Have you ever looked dumb and wished you hadn’t done what made you “look dumb”?

Have you ever had a moment where you’re just like “I have a great idea;” when in reality, you don’t have a great idea. It’s actually a stupid idea. It’s actually a completely foolish idea.

I’m going to jump quickly into this and just talk about a disciple that had an idea and while reading it you might think that what he’s doing is one of those “dumb ideas” but the more you continue to read the story, you see the truth.

Do you imagine how foolish Peter must have looked, asking Jesus to walk on water? He was asking the Jesus Christ to allow him to be at the same spiritual level and same faith level as, well.…Jesus.

The Son of God.

The Messiah.

The King of kings.

The One who rules the world.

Just imagine the moment when Jesus walks on water and you want to go and ask him, “Hey Jesus? Umm… Can I do that too?”

Now imagine going up to your senior pastor at your church or Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, or whoever else you might be listening to on a podcast and asking them “Hey! Can I write your next sermon? Can I preach this Sunday at Elevation Church? Hey Pastor Sonia can I lead a series at Mainstream?”

I’m sure Peter felt foolish asking Jesus to walk on water but I’m sure the other disciples felt even more foolish that they didn’t get to walk on water. Peter’s act of bravery probably opened up the door for questions by the other disciples like:

“How did it feel?”

“Was it hard? “

“Would you do it again?”

 

In the midst of all these different questions, I picture Peter responding with a foolish grin on his face. The kind of grin you would get when you do something stupid but it actually works out and you pull it off. God helps you pull it off.

You have to be willing to look foolish in life to do what God is calling you to do. Only God can look at your foolishness and create it into an act of genius. Fighting a giant with a slingshot looks foolish. Expecting to be the father to the nations sounds foolish at the age of 100. Wrestling with God all night long seems foolish. Giving up your life for people who could possibly never believe in you sounds foolish.

Please understand I am not calling Jesus foolish or a fool. From our  human perspective it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t add up. It seems like a bad idea. But God sees what we would label as “nonsense moments” as opportunities. Opportunities and a way for Him to be glorified. We see a foolish endeavor and He sees a presentation of His glory. What a great and mighty God we worship. One that doesn’t want to embarrass you but present to you to the world and show the world what He can do through you. 

Peter probably brought up the story of him walking on water in between meals at dinner parties. I’m sure Peter’s momma bragged about him at the hair salon every chance she got. I’m sure the guys he knew probably named dropped Peter when ever they were talking to others, like, ”Oh yeah. Peter? I went to school with him. He used to copy my math homework.”

When you allow yourself to look foolish in the eyes of the world, you begin to look righteous in the eyes of the Lord. I’m ready for 2017 to be a year that people question why I do the things I do and how I do them and to look foolish for God. I am ready to have God look at me and see not a fool but a servant willing to give up his title and carry my cross and put His name on. I also pray that you feel encouraged to do the same too.

– Samuel Seda

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:28-31)