I originally wrote this month ago when I preached/shared some thoughts out of John 18 with a small fellowship outside of Port Harcourt, where I’ve now moved to. At the time I had been writing a blog post on each chapter of the Gospel of John, and planned on saving this until I got to the eighteenth chapter, but obviously, I got stuck and didn’t make it that far in the blogging goal.
Pastor James was doing a series on the life of Jesus, and asked me weeks in advance to share from the eighteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, and told me I could go in whatever direction I wanted with it. In this Gospel account, Jesus is arrested, so it was a challenge compared to the normal stuff I love teaching on. In this particular account, I was drawn more towards Peter’s denial of Christ, and out of necessity couldn’t leave the story hanging there and jumped around to the end of the book where Jesus restores Peter.
Everybodyeven unbelieversusually know the story of Peter denying Jesus and the rooster crowing at the third denial. Sometimes when reading Scripture we read it ‘remembering’ what we already understand about the story. I tried not to do that this time when I prepared for that morning, and even some thoughts came to me on the spot, as most preachers are familiar with happening to them. If you remember just gleaning from each of the Gospel accounts, Peter was pretty bold with his words. He had said even if the other disciples denied Him, he would follow Jesus to the death.
Here in the beginning of the 18th chapter, Peter punches the high priest’s servant, and cut his ear off (v 10). I’ve told people that Peter was probably intending to cut off his head because it takes a great deal of precision to get that perfect of an aim, which I doubt Peter had, so it’s more likely he was trying to decapitate the man, and failed. It’s highly unlikely Peter, a fisherman, was skilled with the sword, so, I am going with the idea cutting of the ear was an accident and that he more than likely was trying to cut the man’s head off, but missed and only got his ear.
At any rate, Peter was bold. Then, Peter denied knowing Jesus when a slave girl indicated she thought he followed Jesus as well. The accusation made him crumble, when moments earlier he swore he’d follow Jesus to the death. What he was really made of up to that point was revealed not in his claims, but how he handled being accused of following His Master.
Do You Cash Cheques With Your Mouth That Your Life Can’t Pay For? I was thinking specifically of how easy it is to make claims when you’re not actually threatened or pressured to make good on your promises. Talk is cheap when you’re not going to be put to the test of what you claim. For example, I’m always amazed when I get sent requests to join groups on Facebook that say things about finding 1 million Christians on Facebook or share this as your Facebook status if you’re “bold enough”, and think, that is NOT any kind of pressure for being a Christian. In fact, it’s easy to share things on the internet but not take any flack for it in the real world. People just delete you or unfriend you if they don’t like itgasp!
Do you post ‘bold’ things online like that? Are you one who would ‘follow Jesus to the death’ so long as it doesn’t really mean having to get out of your comfort zone? Just some thoughts to put forth for you today.
A Step Of Faith Often Begins With A Leap
The smallest thing can change your life. In the blink of an eye, something happens by chance (or faith or intention) when you least expect it, sets you on a course you never planned into a future you never imagined. Where will it take you? That’s the journey of our lives, our search for the light, but sometimes finding the light means you must pass through the deepest darkness. ( The Lucky One). Several years ago, I attended a leadership retreat for the purpose of team building, yet now as I look back on what I learned through that experience, I have discovered some even more important life lessons I had gained through those days in the mountains.
One of the activities we participated in was the “trust jump.” Harnessed, safety-roped and held by a fellow worker, we were instructed to climb up a pole to a small platform barely large enough to place your feet. From there we were told to leap off and grab onto a trapeze bar dangling just out of reach which would demonstrate our “trust” in the instructor, rope, apparatus and co-worker.
Even though the bar was only a couple of feet from my outstretched arms, standing precariously on that shelf twenty feet in the air seemed as if I was miles away. I can still remember the fear, doubt and indecision I had in not knowing if I would be able to jump far enough, if my hands would be able to grab hold of that cold steel bar, if I would have the strength in my arms to keep myself from falling, if the safety rope would be able to catch me should I miss or if my co-worker would let go in retaliation of some past disagreement.
These thoughts and uncertainties are not much different from those I sometimes face each day in my life and with my dreams today. I feel like I’m on a fairly firm “ledge” in life, albeit precarious at times. I have the saving grace of God, incredible family and friends, and amazing opportunities, yet despite that foundational stability and a history of past “leaps” resulting in fruitful endeavors, I still struggle with letting go and stepping off at times.“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
This verse alone should be enough for any of us to trust our desires and dreams to the Lord. Most of us would whole-heartily acknowledge He has our best interest in mind and knows the plans He has for us. However, when it comes to jumping off of our (somewhat comfortable) perch or letting go of our (safety) rope, many of us wait until we are assured of the next step and can visibly see (or hold) that next rein before letting go, oftentimes too late (and missing that opportunity).
Our actions become based more upon calculated, self-determined moves rather than faith in His plan and taking intentional steps towards it. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:9-10). This verse is one of the most prayed passages in the Bible. Some of us pray it at meals, sing the lyrics at church, or recite it before competition. Even many “non-believers” know the words verbatim as a result of their catechism upbringing.
However, most of the time when I hear this passage recited, it is done in a solemn, monotone, almost “Eeyore-style,” downplaying or silencing our voices on the word “thy.” It has become a verse some of us have grown to “neglect” or (unintentionally) “reinterpret” over the years.
Career: Are You Living Out Your Calling?
As you face a new year, can you confidently say you are living out God’s calling on your life? Or can you at least say you are moving toward living out the life God has designed for you?
Look around. Talk to people. Read studies. Most people are stuck in a job or career they see as “drudgery,” a dating relationship that has them going nowhere, or a course of life that they are not enjoying. They are surviving, but not thriving. But this can be the year you begin to thrive…as you look at the calling God has placed on your life and you begin to live it out.
God created us to love Him and enjoy Him forever. That means He also created us to do what we enjoy doing. But so many people settle because it’s easier (for the moment), it’s more comfortable (they think) and it’s “safe” (although drudgery can be torturous, at times).
Here are three principles to keep in mind when it comes to living out your calling and thriving in your life this year:
1) God calls us to obey Him…and obedience leads to joy.
When we follow Christ, we aren’t promised continual blue skies and unlimited happiness. Jesus did say that to follow Him involves denying ourselves and picking up a cross. At times that will mean suffering. And it will mean experiencing situations that cause us to depend on Him all the more. But there is a deep-seated joy that comes from the peace and satisfaction of knowing we are in God’s will.
For example, my husband is a pastor. That includes a lot of not-so-glamorous tasks associated with shepherding people. He doesn’t necessarily love his job at times, nor does it make him ridiculously happy. But because He is doing what God has called him to do, He experiences far more peace, joy and satisfaction than if he ran from the position and deafened His ears to God’s call.
David said in Psalm 16:11 “In your presence is fullness of joy, in your right hand there are pleasures forever.” David knew that a life lived in close relationship with God, and therefore obedience to Him, produced joy.
Jesus said in John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.” He then clarified what it meant to “remain” in Him: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (verse 10). He then promises joy as a result: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (verse 11).
So, if you are honoring and obeying God in all that you do, you might not necessarily be happy all the time, but you will experience the deep joy and peace that comes from remaining in His presence. Ask God for a heart to obey Him more this year. Obedience to God always results in a life of joy.
2) God calls us to glorify Him….and glorifying Him brings joy.
God often lays something on our hearts that He wants us to accomplish for His glory. And there is no greater joy than glorifying God with all that we are and all that we have.
When Jesus said “ask whatever you wish and it will be given you” He followed it up by saying “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Bearing fruit (good works) and being Christ’s disciple is not an option for a follower of Christ. It is a given. It will automatically happen as you obey Him, remain in Him and honor Him with your life.
