Believe and Obey

And Peter answered Him (Jesus) and said, “Lord if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.  And He said, “Come!”  And Peter got out of the boat……  Matthew 14:28-29a (NASB)

Been reading a book called THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (I just wanted to say that because it sounds so impressive.) and the author uses this story where Peter walks on water at Jesus’ command as an example of how belief and obedience intersect.  When Jesus told Peter to “come,” Peter’s faith hinged upon obedience.  He could have told himself he had all the faith in the world, but how real would his faith be without the act of obeying.   Bonhoeffer says it this way, “only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”   Wow.

Know this is pretty deep for a Tuesday morning after a holiday weekend, but I think it is important.  If I actually believe, the more I will obey what God tells me to do, whether commands in the Bible or that “nudge” I feel inside that I believe is the Holy Spirit.  Conversely, if I disobey the clear call of God (and I can talk myself out of obeying pretty  readily), then my belief is in danger because my disobedience is an obstacle to my relationship with God.  Probably said it poorly , but there it is……