Jesus is the standard. The gold standard. Our model. His activity seen in the Gospels of the New Testament is meant to incite in us the same works. He not only taught about the Kingdom of God, He modeled it. Jesus is our touchstone.

He said we are to do the same things He did, even more so! … “I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:12).

It’s really a matter of being an apprentice of Jesus and his Kingdom, growing up into His nature. We partake of the nature of God (2 Peter 1:4).

I must consistently call this to mind: Jesus’ nature is not just love, humility, etc. … it includes His activities or works.

Jesus is waiting for us to show initiative

Initiative: a fresh approach, a strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation, a take-charge action.

The disciples were battered by the wind and the waves in the middle of the night. Then they see Jesus walking on the water.

Peter says something amazing: “Lord, if it’s You, command me to come to You on the water.”

This must have thrilled the heart of Jesus! From time to time He would see glimpses of Kingdom possibilities in His core team. The dream of the Kingdom was taking root in His movement.

Peter shows us what a faith-initiative looks like. He took a risk.

Anything Jesus did while on earth, we can do

Jesus was both God and man. But what he did while on the earth was not as God. It was as a man completely yielded to the Father and the Spirit. He was empowered just as we can be.

This is why he always challenged the disciples faith. He’s coaching them up … pushing them to rise to a higher level.

A youth pastor tried to walk on the water of the one of the Great Lakes in the United States. He was obviously young and zealous. But when he caught himself setting aside his wallet and keys, he knew he didn’t have as much faith as he thought!

Jesus is not asking us to be presumptuous. Though I believe there could be an extraordinary situation where an apprentice of Jesus could actually walks on water for some higher purpose or need.

But there are all kinds of opportunities to express water-walking faith …

It could be a health and wellness storm. Perhaps it’s an overwhelming challenge in business or finances. Maybe it’s within the realm of relationships.

When you’re in a challenging situation, and you begin to experience the miraculous in response to your initiative and faith, it will feel like you’re walking on water!

Consider …

• Peter showed initiative. He wanted to experience water-walking faith. Jesus had to love it!

• Progress in anything happens because of experimentation. Experiment. Don’t submit to fear. We have to step out of what we’ve known (the boat), and walk toward Jesus.

• Notice how Peter’s faith was Christo-centric. Christ-centered. Christ-focused. “Lord, if that’s you … _______________.”

• Get an expressed thought (a word) from the Lord about your situation. “Command me to come to you on the water.”

• Was Peter walking on the water? In reality, he was walking on what Christ said to him. Faith comes from hearing something God says to us … in the now moment.

• Do you feel like you have little or no faith? No worries. Faith comes. How? By hearing God say something to you. Here’s a dynamic spiritual exercise: read the inspired Scriptures until you hear the Living Voice of the Lord speaking to you through the Written Word.

• Peter had initiative. He asked for and received a word from Jesus. Everything was above the natural plane, as long as he kept his vision on Jesus. When he began to look at other things, he sank. This is a key for us. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author (originator) and perfecter of faith … (Heb. 12:2).

• Love and honor everyone in your life. Yet there will be times we have to leave the boat to experience what we desperately need and want. Let’s be honest, most people, even those who attend church, stay in the boat. But Jesus is hoping we will ask for an invitation to walk on the water with Him.

Do you passionately want this? I know I do … frankly, I must grow into water-walking faith on various levels in my personal world.

Imagine how this will give witness to the reality of a living Christ!

Let’s keep this at the front of our thinking: Jesus is our standard in all things.

Our experience-to-date is not the standard. Certainly unbelievers are not the standard. Even other Christ-followers are not the standard.

Jesus is.