Burunche’s Blog

John 21: 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

Whew! Of all the questions Simon Bar Jona, a.k.a. Peter, had ever been asked in his life, being asked three times by Jesus whether or not he loved Jesus had to be the worst! He would far rather take a beating than gaze into his Master’s eyes and face the reality that the love he had for Jesus was only at a the level of a brother and not of any degree higher. How wonderful it would have been for Peter to be able to say, “Yes, Lord, I love you with a sacrificial love and no act of bravery will be too much for me.” But Peter had already made sweeping declarations like that one, only to find himself denying Jesus when it really counted. But was Peter alone the night he denied Jesus?

No, Peter was not alone. It’s likely that Peter accompanied John to the high priest’s house. John later described the scene at the high priest’s place in great detail.

John 18:15 “Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.”

It was while Peter was in the courtyard at the High Priest’s house that he denied Jesus three times. John was a very modest man and frequently referred to himself indirectly in the third person. John was probably “the disciple known to the high priest.” If John was known to the high priest, the household probably also knew that John came from Galilee, making it more certain that Peter was probably also a Galilean. John may have been standing close to the religious rulers when they queried Jesus. While Peter went away to grieve over his failures, John followed Jesus all the way to Calvary.

John 19:25 “Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.” John was the disciple to whom Jesus gave the care of his mother.

Perhaps Peter, although thankful to be reinstated by Jesus as a leader, was also just a trifle jealous of John and his close relationship with Jesus. Who knows? Anyway, Peter asks Jesus a question that so many of us want to ask when the Holy Spirit is convicting us of our sins. “Hey, Jesus! Give me a break! I’m not such a bad person. What about that guy/girl over there?” And Jesus’ answer to us is the same answer he gave Peter. ”What is that to you? Follow me.”

Jesus wasn’t actually saying that John was going to live until Jesus returned; he was telling Peter that his will for John should be of no interest to Peter. Rather than envying John for his closeness to Jesus, Peter was to focus on his particular calling as a leader.

Comparisons are both harmful and useless. God has given each of us special gifts that fit us for the calling He has on our lives. If we waste time grieving over the gifts we don’t have, we will never achieve anything with the gifts that we do have. And this was Jesus’ final personal lesson for Peter before ascending. “Peter, follow me! Feed my lambs. Shepherd my sheep. Feed my sheep. Don’t worry about anybody else’s calling; go forth and fulfill the one I have for you. I am telling these things to you alone; don’t worry about someone else’s purpose.”

Perhaps today you feel sidelined. Before the COVID – 19 threat, you were active and working and now you are stuck in your house, wondering if you will even have a job when all of this is over. Perhaps you are tempted to compare yourself to others. Stop it! God has a special purpose for every part of your life, including this time. Perhaps this is the time when God wants you to “be still and know that I am God.” Perhaps this is the time that God wants you to become closer to your family members. Perhaps this is also a time when God wants your prayer life to deepen. Never worry that this time is wasted! Simply ask God to reveal what He wants for you.

PRAYER: Father God, today we come to you asking that you show us what you want us to do during this time of uncertainty. Lord, help us to draw close to you. Help us to serve those around us. And if there are things you want us to do or people who need us to be your hands and feet, please show us these things also. We thank you that you are a God of infinite variety and that you are always doing new things! We praise you and bless you, that you are going to show us daily your perfect will for that day, to the praise and glory of your Name. In the mighty and matchless Name of Jesus. Amen.

John 21: 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.”Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone elsed will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”

For years I wondered about these questions. What was going on here? Actually, per usual, Jesus was accomplishing several different things at once:

1. The number of the questions was significant. Peter had denied Jesus three times. Now Jesus was giving Peter the chance to affirm his dedication to him three times. Peter’s affirmations canceled out his three denials. Jesus was giving Peter a chance to redeem himself, and Peter rose to the challenge.

2. Jesus addresses Peter as “Simon, son of John” or “Simon Bar – Jona.” Previously Jesus had called Simon “Peter” which means a rock. But Peter had forfitted that name when he betrayed Jesus. Now Jesus was giving Simon another chance to prove that he truly was Peter, “Petros,” a rock. And Peter rose to the challenge.

3. In the past, Peter had sworn that even if all the other disciples fell away, he would not; yet, Peter denied Jesus before a courtyard full of people. Now Jesus was allowing Peter another chance to affirm his love and commitment. Jesus was doing it to have Peter confront his sins, which had to be addressed and removed before he can be commissioned to tend to the Lord’s sheep.

4. Jesus was allowing Peter to face the level at which he (Peter) was committed. The key thing here is the language. The answer is found in BibleVerseStudy.com https://www.bibleversestudy.com/johngospel/john21-do-you-love-me.htm

“Are the second and the third questions same or different? The language is critically important. Regarding the three questions, BibleVerseStudy.com has this to say about Jesus’ questions to Peter: “Although they read the same in English, they are actually different in the original Greek. While English has only one word for “love,” there are quite a few in Greek. There is eros for erotic love (none of the Greek words in the New Testament translated, “love,” in English is eros), philos for friendship, storge for affection from familiarity among family members or others brought together not by their choice, philostorgos, which combines philos and storge, and philadelphia for brotherly love. And then there’s agape, the sacrifial, unconditional love. In the passage above, Jesus uses the verb form of agape in the first two of His three questions and the verb form of philos in the third, while Peter responds with the verb form of philos all three times.

So what really is happening?
Jesus initially asks Peter if he loves Him sacrificially “more than these” (John 21:15). Instead of addressing the comparison, Peter answers by claiming his love for Jesus as a friend; after betraying Jesus, there was no way he could claim anything more than that. Jesus then drops the comparison and asks Peter if he loves Him sacrificially. Peter sticks to his claim of friendly love. With His third question, Jesus drops the level of love down to Peter’s, and there’s a match. Jesus will start working on us with whatever level of love we have for Him, but He does demand humility, which is what Peter displayed in John 21:15-17, in contrast to his prideful declaration in Matthew 26:31-33 above.“

Today, if Jesus asked us these questions, what would we say? Most of us would be lucky to make it to the philos level, never mind anything else. But what is important is that Jesus will always meet us where we are and help us change, if we will allow Him to do so. Eventually, Peter died by crucifixion, being crucified head – down at his own request because he felt unworthy to die in the same fashion as his Lord. Peter may have started at the philos level, but he made it to agape, sacrificial love.

PRAYER: Father God, today many of us are not even certain that what we feel for you can be described as brotherly love. Our faith is small, and our love is equally small as well. Lord, please help us realize that You will meet us where we are and that You will lead us into a far greater agape love if we only will allow you. Change us into the image of Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’s precious Name. Amen.

John 21:1 “Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus again revealed Himself to the disciples. He made Himself known in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter told them, “I am going fishing.” “We will go with you,” they said. So they went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus. 5 So He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

“No,” they answered. 6 He told them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it there, and they were unable to haul it in because of the great number of fish.”

The disciples were stressed out! It had been a rough week! Even though Jesus had already appeared to the disciples, they still really wondered if He had actually risen from the dead or if they had deceived themselves. And it was at that point that Peter suggested a fishing trip.

Three of the men in that boat were professional fishermen: Peter, James, and John. If Andrew was along, that would make 4 fishermen. Why were the disciples in Galilee? Jesus had promised that he would meet them in Galilee. Perhaps they had been there a few days, waiting for Jesus and he had failed to turn up. Perhaps they had anticipated a more dramatic reunion. At any rate, nothing was happening, and the boat and nets were there, so they went out on the water and spent all night casting their nets, but they caught nothing.

By this point, Peter might have been muttering under his breath, wondering why nothing seemed to work. All he wanted was to just enjoy the night air, catch a few fish, relax, listen to the sound of the water and feel the gentle rocking motion of the boat on the waves. Peter was conveniently forgetting the storm squalls that could churn the lake into a froth and sink the boat. But all their efforts literally netted them nothing.

Were the disciples in the wrong place? No. Jesus had ordered them to go to Galilee and they had gone to Galilee. Were the disciples poor fishermen? No. Peter and James and John were professional fishermen before they went to follow Jesus. Had the disciples missed God’s timing? No. God was about to give the disciples an experience none of them would forget, an experience to last a lifetime, an experience to remember when they were being tortured and killed later on. Because Jesus was about to cook breakfast for the disciples.

There are many times when we can identify with Simon Peter. We have shown up where and when we were supposed to. We have carried out our stated duties. We have fulfilled all the conditions of performance …..and nothing is happening! We are not seeing any results, despite our best efforts, despite all our expertise. Have we gotten the whole thing wrong?

No! Our problem is the same as Peter’s: we need Jesus to show up in our situations. Once Jesus appeared, everything changed, including the disciples. Perhaps today you feel angry and frustrated. All your best efforts in a situation have proved fruitless. Don’t give up! Wait for Jesus. If you are in the right place at the right time, He will show up. And your life will never be the same again.

PRAYER:Lord Jesus, please come! We need your mighty power! We need your inspiration! We need your grace. We need your courage. Help us to completely fulfill your plans for our lives. In your mighty and precious Name, King Jesus, Amen.

John 6: 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit ^e and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

I love Simon Peter! One minute he’s impetuously hopping out of a boat in the middle of a storm and the next he’s making profound statements. Jesus had just done a miracle, feeding several thousand people and then calming a storm on the sea of Galilee. Now Jesus was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum, introducing to his listeners the concept that he was the bread of life. Well! This was NOT what those people wanted to hear! After all, Jesus had done a miracle and had fed a host of people on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, so why wasn’t he producing bread for the people of Capernaum? Stop with the theory already! These people wanted to see signs and wonders! Come on, Jesus!

But the Twelve who were Jesus’ hand – picked disciples still followed him. They might not have understood everything Jesus was teaching, but they truly believed that he was the Messiah. Even then, Peter seems to have wound up as their spokesman, affirming what the rest of the Twelve believed.

Right now many of us are facing tough times, times in which we are tempted to tell God, “This trial is too difficult! I didn’t sign up for this!” We were hoping that the COVID – 19 threat would go away in a few weeks and that we could resume our normal lives. Now we realize that it’s going to take far longer than we first anticipated before this pandemic is over, and many of us fear that we will never return to “normal” again.

As we search for hope for our futures, we need to remember Peter’s affirmation. ”Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Jesus Came as a man, died a cruel death on a cross and rose so that we might have eternal life if we will believe on him. Nowhere in the Scriptures are we ever promised that things will be easy; in fact, Jesus told his disciples that “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Today as you face Yours faithfully our trials and responsibilities, remember this! There is a risen living Savior who has conquered death and the grave. If you will believe on his Name, you will have a hope and a future. He truly is the Holy One of Israel!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please manifest yourself to those who read this devotional today! Give them special tokens of your love so that they know that you are real and that you will never leave them or forsake them. In your mighty and precious Name, King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23 After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, 24 but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night,b Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”

29“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

WHAT CONSTITUTES FAITH? On any given day, you can tune in to radio or television or even YouTube and see and hear preachers thundering out messages about faith. And it is possible that some of these people actually do have faith and are true believers. But look at this story for a moment.

Jesus had just heard horrible news! His cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded to satisfy the spite of Herodias, Herod’s wife. Before Jesus could withdraw to pray and deal with his feelings, he had to perform another miracle of multiplying food to feed those who had come to hear him. Finally, Jesus was able to get the disciples into a boat so that he could be by himself to pray. Now it was around 3 AM, the sky was pitch black, and the winds were pounding on the boat, threatening to sink it. Jesus appeared, walking on the water. While the rest of the disciples were cowering in the boat, fearing they were seeing a ghost, only Peter had the courage to speak out. And only Peter got out of the boat.

Many preachers and teachers have mocked Peter for suddenly realizing the extent of the danger he was in. BUT PETER GOT OUT OF THE BOAT! And when Peter felt himself beginning to sink, HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD. There is no record of any of the other disciples saying anything until both Peter and Jesus were back in the boat. And remember, Matthew, who wrote this account, was one of the disciples, an eye witness! So when Matthew is describing the scene, he is sure of his facts. Only after Jesus and Peter had climbed into the boat and the wind had died down did the disciples say anything.

Perhaps you have taken a step of faith. You feel, like Peter, that God has called you to do something bold for Him. And you have gotten completely out of your comfort zone and into a potentially life – threatening situation. But the sky is black, the wind is howling, and suddenly your feet feel wet! Don’t despair! Follow Peter’s example. Peter cried out to the Lord; so can you. The same Lord who raised Peter back out of that water to walk on top of the sea can equally raise you to walk on top of your difficulties instead of sinking in them.

PRAYER: Father God, this morning we want to follow your leading wherever it will take us, but we are afraid. Please cause us to trust where we cannot see and to follow hard after you all the days of our lives. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.

1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

When Peter was writing this letter to the churches in the northern part of Asia Minor, he was in Rome and may have been facing his death. Peter probably wrote this in 63 AD at a time when the Roman Government under Nero began actively persecuting Christians.

Peter was writing to people who were suffering, both economically and socially. Ray Van der Laan points out in one of his teaching videos that those who refused to make the routine ritual sacrifices to the city gods would be barred from trading in the markets of those cities. In addition, Christians celebrated one day of the week as the Sabbath and had other practices that set them apart from their pagan neighbors. No, it was not easy to be a Christian….and yet, the church continued to grow. Even when Nero became particularly cruel and used Christians as human torches in his gardens, Christianity continued to attract new believers.

What was the attraction? Why would anyone deliberately change their beliefs in the face of such persecution? The answer lies in Peter’s counsels stated above. Christians LOVED! and they LOVED IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION! Christians were JOYFUL, despite all this suffering. Most of the pagan believers celebrated certain festivals, but between celebrations, things were pretty grim. But here were these Christians worshiping and rejoicing and praising God. Being around these people was like receiving a drink of cool water on a hot day! In fact, these people were enjoying their lives, even through all the difficulties they were facing. And this joy was both entrancing and captivating.

Today many of us are enduring lock downs due to COVID – 19. But the question is this: are we rejoicing in the opportunities God is opening up for us, or are we merely whining? If we listen to Peter, we will rejoice even during suffering.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you! Thank you for the opportunities to slow down and to be quiet before you. Thank you for the new opportunities you are opening up. Thank you that we can come out of this lock down closer to you than ever before. We bless your Name now and forever! Amen.

1 Peter 1:6 “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

When Peter was writing this letter to the churches in the northern part of Asia Minor, he was in Rome and may have been facing his death. Peter probably wrote this in 63 AD at a time when the Roman Government under Nero began actively persecuting Christians.

Peter was writing to people who were suffering, both economically and socially. Ray Van der Laan points out in one of his teaching videos that those who refused to make the routine ritual sacrifices to the city gods would be barred from trading in the markets of those cities. In addition, Christians celebrated one day of the week as the Sabbath and had other practices that set them apart from their pagan neighbors. No, it was not easy to be a Christian….and yet, the church continued to grow. Even when Nero became particularly cruel and used Christians as human torches in his gardens, Christianity continued to attract new believers.

What was the attraction? Why would anyone deliberately change their beliefs in the face of such persecution? The answer lies in Peter’s counsels stated above. Christians LOVED! and they LOVED IN THE FACE OF PERSECUTION! Christians were JOYFUL, despite all this suffering. Most of the pagan believers celebrated certain festivals, but between celebrations, things were pretty grim. But here were these Christians worshiping and rejoicing and praising God. Being around these people was like receiving a drink of cool water on a hot day! In fact, these people were enjoying their lives, even through all the difficulties they were facing. And this joy was both entrancing and captivating.

Today many of us are enduring lock downs due to COVID – 19. But the question is this: are we rejoicing in the opportunities God is opening up for us, or are we merely whining? If we listen to Peter, we will rejoice even during suffering.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you! Thank you for the opportunities to slow down and to be quiet before you. Thank you for the new opportunities you are opening up. Thank you that we can come out of this lock down closer to you than ever before. We bless your Name now and forever! Amen.

1 Peter1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. “

NOBODY IN BETHSAIDA WAS EVER GOING TO ARGUE THAT SIMON PETER WAS PERFECT! In fact, if you had gotten to chat with Peter’s boyhood friends and his neighbors, they would have been more than happy to tell you Peter’s failings. Peter was impatient, impetuous, and given to grand gestures. Peter had a temper and even his closest friends knew that it was best not to get Peter angry. And yet, Jesus chose Peter with all his failings to help lead the disciples after the Ascension. Was Jesus crazy? Why choose Peter?

Perhaps Jesus chose Peter particularly because of Peter’s shortcomings and his knowledge of his own failings. While Jesus was being interrogated, Peter was in the courtyard trying to deny that he even knew Jesus. As far as we know, when Jesus was crucified, Peter wasn’t around. Even when the tomb was reported to be empty, Peter wasn’t really sure that Jesus had risen. And in the 21^st chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus questions Peter as to how much Peter loves him, and Peter is still fumbling for answers. And yet, Peter became a leader, acknowledged as such by the other disciples.

What makes a good disciple? Are the best disciples the ones who appear to do everything correctly, or are they those who are not perfect and who are aware of their imperfections? Perhaps, if we think we are perfect, that very belief in our perfection will keep us from imitating the Master. After all, disciples are supposed to imitate their leader, not merely to seek their own ways.

I love Simon Peter’s example! I love Peter because he was not perfect and yet Jesus selected him. I love Peter because he recognized his failings as a follower, but he changed. After the resurrection, Peter became one of the most faithful imitators of Jesus. And at the end, Peter requested that he be crucified head – down, because he felt unworthy to die in the same fashion as his Lord.

No, you do not have to be perfect to become a disciple of Jesus. You do need to pray and search for God’s will for your life. And you need to be willing to copy Peter: once you have found God’s will, don’t hold back but go forward, knowing that God will meet you and guide you.

PRAYER: Father God, this morning we come to you, begging you to help us learn how to become disciples. We are not sure what this will mean for our lives, but we know that You love us and that You have a perfect plan. Lord, guide us so that we will truly become disciples and disciple – makers. In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 28: ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 24: 50 “ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

The disciples had already paid a heavy price for following Jesus. Many of them had left homes and businesses. Some of those disciples probably had family members who thought they were crazy. Yes, discipleship had come at a high price. But the disciples who were watching Jesus ascend into heaven knew that they had made the right decision and they praised God for what He had done. In the next several years, those disciples would travel over most of the known world and would preach the Gospel to all kinds of people. Even when some of the early Christians died as martyrs, they died praising God. Discipleship has a high cost. But what is the cost of non -discipleship? Why can’t we just “go along to get along?”

Dallas Willard in “The Great Omission” points out that “the cost of nondiscipleship is far greater – even when this life alone is considered – than the price paid to walk with Jesus, constantly learning from him.”

“Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God’s overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, nondiscippleship costs you exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring )John 10:10). The cross- shaped yoke of Christ is after all an instrument of liberation and power to those who life in it with him and learn the meekness and lowliness of heart that brings rest to the soul.”

God is preparing His banquet. Will you come, or will you give excuses?

PRAYER: Father God, please help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives! Help us to realize that discipleship brings peace and joy while nondiscipleship brings only pain. And thank you, thank you, thank you! for the Gift of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 28: 18 – 20 “Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority [all power of rule] in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days [perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion] to the very close and consummation of the age. Amen. (So let it be.) NKJV Amplified

What does it mean to make disciples? Dallas Willard states that “the first goal he (Jesus) set for the early church was to use his all -encompassing power and authority to make disciples without regard to ethnic distinctions – from all “nations”…Having made disciples, these alone were to be baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Given this twofold preparation, they were then to be taught to treasure and keep “all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

Willard continues, “But in place of Christ’s plan, historical drift has substituted “Make converts (to a particular ‘faith and practice’) – and baptize them into church membership. This causes two great omissions from the Great Commission to stand out. Most important, we start by omitting the making of disciples and enrolling people as Christ’s students, when we should let all else wait for that. Then, we also omit, of necessity, the step of taking our converts through training that will bring them ever-increasingly to do what Jesus directed …Not having made our converts disciples, it is impossible for us to teach them how to live as Christ lived and taught ….When confronted with the example and teachings of Christ, the response today is less one of rebellion or rejection than one of puzzlement: How do we relate to these? What have they to do with us? Isn’t this bait and switch?”

The disciples traveled with Jesus “in an attitude of observation, study, obedience, and imitation.” For the first disciples, there had to be a desire to be like Jesus and a decision or settled intent to imitate Him at all costs, including the loss of family and friends. “The disciple is one who, intent upon becoming Christ – like and so dwelling in his “faith and practice,” systematically and progressively rearranges his affairs to that end. By these decisions and actions, even today, one enrolls in Christ’s training, becomes his pupil or disciple. There is no other way.” Dallas Willard, “The Great Omission”

Today, many of us have enforced time for reflection. I challenge you to find someplace quiet, even if it is your closet, and ask God to show you what He wants you to do to become His disciple. Rest assured, God is waiting for you “in the secret place.”

PRAYER: Father God, thank you that you are always calling us to come up higher! Help us to truly search for you. Transform us from ordinary human beings into your disciples. And help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of Jesus. Amen.