Tag Archives: Peter

July 22
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'”  (Acts 10:34-35, NIV)

As Peter was before his vision (please see Acts 10:9ff), we prefer people we like; and we prefer people like us.  This is our nature apart from God, and it is the starting point of racism, sexism, nationalism, and all other preferences based on outward appearances and other superficial traits.

When we begin to see people as God sees people, we will be humbled by how often our personal preferences are tied to the most superficial human qualities.  We will also be amazed at how often the persons accepted by God are 180-degrees out from us in physical appearance, cultural background, native language, and national origin.

God commands us to be like Him: Accepting of every person (nationality, race, culture, gender) “who fears Him and does what is right.”  – Luther

Tagged , , , ,
July 9
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“When Peter saw him (John), he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’  Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?  You must follow me.’”  (John 21:21-22, NIV)

As disciples of Jesus, we each have an assignment to execute in God’s plan.

It is humanly natural to compare, to contrast, and to compete — but such characteristics have no place in the fellowship of God’s people.  We who belong to God must, instead, strive to cooperate, to collaborate, and to cheer-on all others working with God — even if we don’t comprehend what it is they have been assigned by our common Lord.

If we don’t see it, what is that to us?  We do see Jesus, and it is Jesus we must follow.

Anything more is a diversion, and anything less is a distraction.  Stay focused.  – Luther

Tagged , , ,
July 8
Leave a comment
Uncategorized

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?'”  (John 21:15, NIV)

(This is a complex passage of scripture because its few words carry a number of applications.  Today, we look at a third possible application.)

Today’s application returns to Peter’s loud and public boast that he would never, never, ever, ever desert Jesus; that he would “lay down his life” for Jesus.  (John 13:36-38)

This was Peter’s ambition, and it was a noble one.  In the verses that follow John 21:15, Peter’s ambition to love Jesus without condition is affirmed, and he is told that, yes, he will “lay down his life” for his Lord.

God is faithful to give us the desires of our heart, but He does not just give us what we desire; He first prepares us to both receive and to employ the gift.

We ask God for patience.  It is a noble request (and most of us would certainly do well to be more patient).  But do we despise the process that leads to patience — which, according to scripture, includes suffering, trouble, and pain?  (See Romans 5:3)

We ask God to be made holy. It is a noble request (and most of us would certainly do well to be more holy — which is to say, more like God and less like our dysfunctional world).  But do we despise the process that leads to holiness?  Do we gripe about the silence, and curse the solitude that is necessary to shape us into a woman or man who — like God — cannot be bossed; and cannot be bought?

As a child of God, our heavenly Father is delighted to give us the gifts that reflect the desires of our heart.  Like the wise father who gives the keys to the family car to his child only after the child is properly educated, trained, and licensed to operate the vehicle; our heavenly Father first makes us ready for the gifts we desire.  – Luther

Tagged , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →