Tag: hope

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Awakening Hope – Part 4

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” – John 21:18-19, NKJV

Yesterday we looked at how Peter declared he would die for Jesus (Matthew 26:31-35) but then denied Him three times. Ask yourself, why would Peter say something so bold? Was it because Peter said lots of things he later regrets? It’s possible, there’s plenty of evidence throughout scripture of Peter talking without thinking (both positive and negative examples). Personally I believe there is another reason.

What if God put that desire in Peter’s heart? What if God planted a seed in Peter’s heart that one day he would die for his Savior and Lord? It’s really hard to know for sure if that’s what happened but I do know this: if God plants a dream or desire in your heart, not matter how large or small it may be, God will also provide everything you need to accomplish it at the absolutely perfect time.

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Awakening Hope – Part 3

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. – John 21:15-17, NKJV

Peter was a bold man. In Matthew 26:31-35 we see Peter declaring that if everyone else forsakes Jesus, he wouldn’t. Peter said he would die before denying Jesus. We all know what happened next. Peter denied Jesus three times and then the rooster crowed. Peter ran away crying and ashamed. Then we come to today’s passage. A lot of commentators say Jesus asked these three questions, once for each denial to restore Peter which is very possible. There is one more thing I want you to see though.

The first two times Jesus asked Peter if Peter loves Him with a Godly love (agapao). Peter’s response both times was yes, you know I love you with a brotherly love (phileo). The third time Jesus changes it and asks Peter if Peter loves Him with a brotherly love (phileo). God’s standard is Godly love (agapao). Jesus knew Peter wasn’t there yet and Peter was well aware of it too. Jesus didn’t use Peter’s shortcoming as a way to shame Peter but as an invitation by meeting Peter where he was. It was in the midst of Peter’s shortcoming that Jesus commissioned him (v15 Feed My lambs; v16 Tend My Sheep; v17 Feed My sheep). If we look back to Luke 5:8-11, Peter said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” But Jesus responded with, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” Our hope is not that we are called because we’re worthy but that we’re worthy because we’re called.

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Awakening Hope – Part 2

Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” – John 21:9-10, NKJV

As I picture this unfolding in my mind, I imagine a large section of the beach covered with coals. On the coals, more than enough bread and fish but there’s this one small gap where it’s just coals. Jesus points to the small empty area of coals and says, “I saved a spot for some of the fish you just caught. Why don’t you put a couple of them right here.”

The funny thing is Jesus didn’t need any fish from the disciples. After all, Jesus was the one who provided the fish for the disciples in the first place. Left to the disciples own abilities, they would have landed on shore empty handed. But that’s exactly what gives me hope. Jesus invites us to participate with Him even when we ourselves have little to offer.

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Awakening Hope – Part 1

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. – John 21:3, NKJV

Just prior to John 21, Jesus died, rose from the grave, and appeared to his disciples. Then there was a period of silence and waiting. That’s where today’s verse picks up. Some commentaries say in verse 3 the disciples were walking away from the ministry. If I was in the disciples’ shoes, it’s hard to say that I wouldn’t walk away and go back to something I know.

The disciples spend all night fishing and have nothing to show for it. Some random guy on the shore has the audacity to ask what they caught and tells them what they should have tried (v4-6). Strangely these expert fishermen follow the stranger’s advice and end up with the catch of a lifetime (v6). One of the disciples recognized the stranger was actually Jesus so Peter jumps overboard and swims to shore. What a great story, right? The problem is we miss out on more if we stop here.

Roughly three years prior we see a similar story unfold. In Luke 5 Peter spends all night fishing without getting a single fish and Jesus tells him to try again (v5). The result is the catch of a lifetime (v6). How does Peter respond? Depart from me, for I am a sinful man (v8). Another way of saying it is, “Don’t look at me until I clean up the junk in my life. Then I’ll be more worthy.”

There’s one more story we need to look at before we finish to see the progression of Peter and it happened between these other two. It’s found in Matthew 14. Jesus sent the disciples off ahead of Him (v22). The disciples see Him walking on the water and they think He’s a ghost (v25-26). Jesus calms them down (v27). Peter’s response found in verse 28 and 29 is what I want us to look at. “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come and I will.” Jesus says come and Peter hops out of the boat and walks on the water.

I don’t know about you but this really give me hope. God can take an ordinary fisherman with a really cool name and take him from a place of self pity, doubt, & insecurity (Luke 5) to a place where he’s willing to jump out of a boat as long as there’s confirmation (Matthew 14) to a place where he has enough confidence that he’ll immediately jump out of the boat (John 21).

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Still Not Surprised

It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. – John 13:2-5, NLT

I don’t know about you but I find this passage a bit of a gut check. Jesus knows Judas Iscariot is going to betray Him and yet Jesus still washes his feet. That is a tough passage to say the least.

Yesterday we looked at temptations as opportunities for victory and freedom. What happens when that opportunity doesn’t result in victory and freedom? What happens when you mess up again? This is where we see God’s mercy and grace.

Jesus didn’t have to serve Judas by washing his feet but Jesus chose to anyway. If it were me, I would have probably told Judas everything he had ever done wrong and what he was about to do. Thankfully Jesus handles things differently. Jesus gave Judas another chance just like He gives to us every time we mess up.

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Not Surprised

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. – John 12:4-6, NLT

Have you ever wondered why Judas was in charge of the money? After all Mathew used to be a tax collector and had plenty of experience handling money. Why Judas Iscariot?

I believe part of God’s refining process allows us opportunities to experience victory. Another way of saying it is the areas you feel the most temptation are the exact areas God wants to work on so you can experience victory and freedom. Please don’t misinterpret that to mean that God is tempting you though.

For example, let’s say you have a bit of an anger problem. Several times a week or month you find yourself in situations where you almost get into a fist fight. In this example I believe God is trying to work through your anger issues so you can experience victory and freedom in this area. Eventually God will start highlighting another area He wants to work on like pride, food issues, fear, greed, trust issues, or sexual sin.

So next time you’re facing that temptation again, take hope. It’s not another situation where you’ll probably fail, it’s actually just a new opportunity to experience victory and freedom!

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The Defense Rests

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. – Luke 22:50-51, NKJV

Can you imagine being an attorney trying to convict Peter for cutting off someone’s ear? I would much rather be a defense attorney in this situation even though Peter was actually guilty. My first and only witness would be Malchus. After showing that his left and right ears are still intact, I might be so bold as to drop the proverbial mic and sit down resting my case. When Jesus healed his ear, all evidence and witnesses against Peter were nullified.

I have a better than average memory but I can still forget things. Sometimes I remember them later and sometimes I don’t but there’s always that chance I’ll remember. That’s why it’s so incredible that God doesn’t forget our sins when we repent, He completely removes them. As Psalm 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

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Pathfinder

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT

Traveling is not my favorite thing to do and yet I have traveled domestically and abroad. It’s crazy how times have changed though. I remember a time when I would print out maps and routes to make sure I didn’t get lost. Now as long as I have my cell phone with cellular service, I don’t give it another thought. It doesn’t matter if it’s my first time there or I’ve been a hundred times before, my phone will tell me exactly where I need to go. Why do I have such confidence in my phone? It’s because my phone has always pointed me where I needed to go.

As great as my phone’s track record is for getting me where I need to go, God’s track record is even better. As today’s verses say, “Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

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Seesaw

Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” – Genesis 16:13, NKJV

You probably know the story already. Abraham and Sarah are promised a son by God but it doesn’t happen soon enough. So Sarah tells Abraham to have a child through Hagar the maidservant. Hagar gets pregnant which causes Sarah to be jealous and start mistreating her. Hagar decides to run away.

Hagar felt abandoned through all the pain and misery. No one saw or cared what she was going through. Then she ran into the Angel of the Lord by a spring in verse 7 and found out someone was watching.

Someone had His eyes on her the entire time. Hagar’s encounter with God was so profound she declared, “You are the God who sees me.” Whatever you’re going through today, know you are not alone. There is the God who not only sees all the heartache and pain but He also cares greatly for you.

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All in the Family

3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.

5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. – Matthew 1:3, 5, 6, NKJV

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives.” If you look at the family tree of Jesus, you’ll notice four women mentioned each involving something most people would want to cover up. The fact they are included makes me believe there’s something we can learn from them.

Tamar was a childless widow who was living with Judah waiting for his youngest son to grow up so she could marry him. Tamar realized Judah was not going to let her marry his youngest son so she comes up with a plan. She will get Judah to think she’s a prostitute and sleep with her. Her plan ends up working and she gives birth two twins.

Rahab was a gentile and a prostitute. David saw Bathsheba bathing on the rooftop. He invited her over while her husband was at war. She gets pregnant and David covers it up by having her husband killed and taking Bathsheba as his own wife.

Ruth was from Moab which meant she was a gentile and a pagan. What’s more if you look at the origins of the Moabites in Genesis 19, you’ll see it’s through incest (Genesis 19:36-37).

So what can we learn from this? It shows your family and your past don’t define who you are and what you can do!