Just a short thought....

     I preached a stand alone sermon on John 21 and called it the Peter's Restoration this Sunday.  I am taking passages that would come after the end of the gospel of Matthew through the ascension of Jesus to Pentecost.  We are looking at them to give encouragement and instruction to flex our spiritual muscles to share the gospel with those that God has put around us already.  This Sunday was a type to look at the character of Peter and compare that to many who are like him.  They tried God; were touched by God; spoke for God; but now are back doing what they were doing before.  Peter went back fishing and took some of his buddies along.  We have friends and family that fall into that model.  Jesus comes to Peter and challenges him on his love for Him and also gives him instruction on what He wants him to do.  Peter gets a personal prophecy from Jesus about his life and his death.  Peter would grow old.  Peter would be used by God to tend and shepherd the little lambs and sheep.  Peter would be crucified for the faith.  Peter would eventually have the love that Jesus was asking for in the end.  It is amazing the love and purpose that Jesus gives Peter on that beach.

      But then Peter looks away from Jesus and looks at John.  "What about him?"  Just like Peter getting out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus.  He was fine with his eyes on Jesus but then he looks at the wind and the waves and starts to sink.  Jesus goes from commanding Peter to "Follow Me!" to "You follow Me!"  Jesus says to Peter, "If I want him (John) to remain until I come, what is that to you?"  If I could paraphrase Jesus' words to Peter it would be, "Peter, there is only one God on this beach and it is not you!"  

      I think this is a common problem of today and the ages.  We want to be God.  We have a lot of little gods that we are following and not following "the" God.  What He says goes.  We try to rationalize it away; we try to redefine it; and we many times disregard it altogether.  There are too many gods on the beach in our lives.  God uses this language with Job and also in the book of Romans to draw the line in the sand.  It is like God is saying, "I am God and God alone."  Right back to commandment number 1 and 2.

      Do we allow God to be the only God on the beach of our lives?  Are we focused on Him and not on others?  He gives us life and He gives us purpose and He gives us the ability to continue to love Him more and more.  When will that be enough?

 Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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