Peter

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You can’t win them all – part 1

What do you get out of church, Sunday school, and Bible study?

Some get very much and others very little. There are those that don’t get fed in a church service and others that take lots of notes.

What you get out of it is entirely up to you.

Case in point,

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:66-69

Peter was one of twelve men that traveled with Jesus. Along with the others he witnessed miracles, heard teaching, and watched His lifestyle.
However it was Peter alone that proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ. That’s not to say the others did not think it also.

But among the twelve is one that is of a different nature.

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” John 6:70

Knowing what Judas will do begs the question as to why he didn’t get anything from the teaching of Jesus.
How is it the others went on to preach, teach, and evangelize and Judas did not?

Let’s investigate this tragedy this week.

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Feeding

Yesterday, at the radio station, a listener stopped by bearing gifts of deer sausage, both link and pan. He had heard the morning show make a reference to it on the air a day or two before.

This morning I cooked the sausage and eggs and Susan brought biscuits. Top it off with some ribbon cane syrup and we had a feast at KSWP.

I have never met Thomas, the listener that brought the sausage. And I may never run into him again. But he blessed us! Not only with the sausage but just his generosity in driving to the station to deliver his own sausage.

I saw some scripture in a new light.

Jesus and the disciples had just finished breakfast when Jesus asked a question of 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.” John 21:15

That can be spiritualized and you can say that Peter was to “feed” the word of God – to preach and teach the doctrine of Christ.

A missionary once told me that people hear the Gospel better on a full stomach.
There is a lot of truth in that.
The church should not limit herself to just preaching but in also feeding others. And if the church does not have the resources to do it alone then she should give aid to those that do.

This has been on my heart lately. It’s not just food and preaching the word, but clothing and basic toiletries also.

When Jesus commanded us to

Go therefore and make disciples Matt 28:19

I believe the method in doing that is in His example of feeding, healing, and preaching!

Abba, I want a servants heart to feed Your lambs. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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The Next Shemittah-3

As I mentioned in an earlier devotion, for me the spiritual meaning of a shemittah release is rooted in forgiveness.

With this thought in mind it will totally change the meaning of what Jesus taught Peter about forgiveness?

Matt 18:21-22 “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

It has been said that the Rabbi’s taught that forgiving someone three times was sufficient. I have found where a Rabbi Yosi may have taught this in the Talmud using the example of Joseph and his brothers as the backdrop.

But what I find interesting is that seven and multiples of it are used.

Seven is one shemittah. Seventy is ten shemittah. And seventy times seven is 490 or seventy shemittah.

What if Peter was not just talking about forgiving someone seven times but seven years!
A shemittah!

Then the response of Jesus is not to forgive someone 490 times but seventy shemittah’s or 490 years. That would mean your whole life!

Forgiveness is not an option – it is a lifelong lifestyle!

Matt 6:15 If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Abba, my forgiveness from You will become my forgiveness for others. I release them and free myself from any grudges. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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The power to forgive and be forgiven

Matt 18:21 “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Continue reading →

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Complete Forgiveness

complete forgivenessMatt 18:21-22 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”

Seven is the number that indicates completion. Peter’s offer of forgiveness is more than generous. Continue reading →

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Reprimand Jesus?

rebukeMatt 16:22 – But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

Jesus had just told the disciples that He would be killed and resurrected the third day. Continue reading →

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Fullest Potential – Lead Others to Christ

potential leadOne day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Continue reading →