Being worthy has nothing to do with being able to walk on water. Take Peter, for instance. As one of Jesus’ inner circle, Peter was the first disciple who recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. He had walked with Him and had witnessed many miracles. Peter personally experienced the power of God through the authority Jesus gave him and the other disciples to cast out evil spirits and heal people afflicted with disease and illness.
In spite of the power Peter had, the miracles he saw, and the amazing opportunity to serve alongside Jesus, he disappointed the Lord. The disciple swore that he would never betray Jesus, but he denied Him three times just before Jesus’ crucifixion. I believe Peter was sincere in his professed loyalty to Jesus, yet at the most critical moment he let Him down.
Just imagine. At the beginning of every day for the rest of his life, Peter would be reminded of his failures whenever a rooster crowed. Do you think for a minute that the disciple felt worthy of the call on his life? I don’t think so.
If Peter hadn’t repented and accepted Jesus’ forgiveness, he would never have stepped back into ministry. He probably would have wasted away and lived a miserable life. But because Peter received the gift of grace that we have through the death of Jesus Christ, he was there to help build the early church. His sermon preached on the day of Pentecost resulted in three thousand new converts. Peter was spreading the gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike.
When you see what God accomplished through Peter despite his flaws and failures, you can see how important it is not to hide behind feelings of shame, regret, condemnation, disqualification, or unworthiness.
Peter wasn’t the only powerful and influential person who felt unworthy. Do you know what John the Baptist said? In referring to Jesus, John said, “I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals” (Mark 1:7).
That’s a pretty humble self-assessment. This is the same person of whom Jesus said later, “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!” (Matthew 11:11). The same man honored by Jesus, the same man given the remarkable and unprecedented role of announcing the Messiah’s arrival, is the same man who said he wasn’t even worthy to untie the Lord’s shoes. Did John think he was worthy to walk on water? Doubtful.
How about the apostle Paul? The man whose writings comprise almost half of the New Testament, one of the most well-known missionaries and accomplished church planters, also questioned his worth. He wrote to the church in Corinth, “I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church” (1 Corinthians 15:9). And yet Paul not only walked on water in his lifetime, he also gave his very life for the cause of faith.
If you are questioning your worth, you’re not alone. But don’t let it stop you from serving. God will work through you. Knowing that, you can boldly step out in faith and achieve the impossible.
Caroline Barnett joins James and Betty this Monday on LIFE TODAY. Excerpted from Willing To Walk On Water by Caroline Barnett. Copyright ©2013 by Caroline Barnett. Published by Tyndale Momentum. Used by permission.
