Day 40: Jail Break!

Holy Saturday

Scripture: Acts 12:6-7

NRS 6 The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his wrists.

Devotional: Considering that trusting in Jesus can lead to suffering, imprisonment and even death, what does it mean to place our full trust in the Him? I think this was the question Peter wrestled with in the courtyard. Does following Jesus Christ and trusting in Him really lead to the same things Jesus suffered? The truthful answer is yes it does. Jesus taught that following Him would lead to the cross, but He still taught to surrender the totality of our will and our lives to the Triune God. It is a call to trust completely, knowing that He is with us in the suffering. In the courtyard Peter had yet to grasp that truth, but today we find a brand new Peter in this final scripture record of his imprisonment. Herod had James the brother of John put to death. The pleasure expressed by the crowds inspired him to do the same with Peter, so he had him arrested. The Rock had become a man with absolute faith in God. Rather than spend the night in jail worrying, he confidently faced his imminent death by getting a good night’s sleep. What a picture of transformation? In the courtyard, when faced with uncertain persecution, he completely denied Christ. Imprisoned, faced with almost certain death, transformed Peter was sleeping like a baby between two guards. When we allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us, we too begin to develop a confident trust in God that will never be misplaced. Peter’s confidence did not go unnoticed and it was rewarded with the waking nudge of an angel as his chains fell off. It was only after they had walked out of the prison and the angel disappeared that Peter realized his rescue was real and not a vision. Many people would have fled, but Peter headed to the house of Mary to continue his ministry. Sometimes we find ourselves backed into a corner by the world and we feel like there is no way out, but those are the very places we get surprised by God. He steps in changing everything. His actions spoke to Peter and they speak to us, “I’m not done with you. You still have work to do in My Name.” Today is Holy Saturday, if there was ever a day that is completely about God not being done yet, it is today! The world placed Jesus on a cross where He proclaimed, “It is finished.” It looked like the end. Twenty-four hours later that end seemed certain, but God was not done! He raised Jesus from the grave. It was only the worldly part that was finished, God’s transformation of the world had just begun. That transformation continues in each of us today. God is not done yet, what does He still have to accomplish in each of us?

Prayer: Father, today we give thanks that You are not finished. Not finished in each of us and not finished in the world we live. We ask that You would redeem whatever situations into which the world has backed us and move us into the work you still have for us to do. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:                 We Fall Down by Chris Tomlin

Spiritual discipline challenge: Tonight we await the glory of the dawn and the empty tomb. Let us confess to God all of our failings to prepare our hearts to receive the Risen Lord.

Day 39: Welcoming Gentiles

Good Friday

Scripture: Acts 11:17-18

NRS 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

Devotional: Two thousand years after the church started, Saint Paul’s title of, “Apostle to the Gentiles,” has endured. This was the task to which God called him and he fulfilled it to great success, but Paul was not the first. The one who originally brought the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles was none other than The Rock. God used Peter to open the Church to Gentiles. The story begins was a vision of a blanket descending from heaven. It was full of slimy, squirming, slithering things. A voice told Peter to eat a critter from the blanket. Once we silence our resounding, “Eeeew, I could never eat a live snake,” we must remember the source of Peter’s, “Eeeew.” The blanket was full of critters that God declared unclean in the Book of Leviticus. This was Torah, the law which Peter had obeyed his entire life. Peter had never eaten unclean food and didn’t want to start. His “Eeeew” reflected a deeper level of disgust than ours, but it was cut off by the voice of his Divine Server, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” Peter was being told to eat and violate the Levitical laws. Three times he was commanded to eat. Three times he resisted. Three times he was told not to call God’s creation unclean. If we haven’t noticed by now, Peter had a certain relationship with the number three. Three denials. Three rooster crows. Three love questions on the beach. One would think he would have recognized the voice of God in his encounters with three, but he was still perplexed after his rooftop vision. It was not until a few days later, when Peter met Cornelius, that he understood God was telling him that no person was profane or unclean. With that new understanding, he preached the Good News and informed them that God showed no partiality. Anyone, from any nation, who fears and obeys the Lord is acceptable in His sight. When Peter baptized Cornelius and his household, the Church received its first Gentiles. The controversy that followed would require the bold humility of Peter. When the church in Jerusalem heard of the Gentile admissions, they protested. It was Peter that convinced them Jesus died for Jews and Gentiles. With this act, The Rock was firmly established as the foundation of the Church. Peter’s obedience and openness to God doing new things, paved the way for the entire world to become part of the Body of Christ. While Paul was still being built up in the Spirit, Peter was opening the doors of the Church to the world. Peter recognized God’s love for the world in his triplet lessons and initiated transformation for the entire world.

Prayer: Lord today we pray for recognition of the distinct ways we hear Your voice. Silence the background noise and the shout of worldly voices. Help us to know Your voice and hear it clearly. May we be obedient when we recognize Your sign of three in each of our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:                Through All of It by Colton Dixon

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today our challenge is to meditate on our past experiences with God’s voice. I have a hunch that He has already communicated to us in a “Three” that is unique to us. We just need to recognize it. Let us go back to the places we know we have heard from God and see if we can identify our “Three.”

Day 38: A New Reputation

Maundy Thursday

Scripture: Acts 5:14-16

NRS 14 Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. 16 A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.

Devotional: Before he ever preached or healed, Peter had a reputation and public recognition. In the high priest’s courtyard, they recognized his dialect and face as they inquired, “Aren’t you one of Jesus’ companions?”  His reputation as an impulsive sword wielder was recognized by the cousin of Malchus, whose ear Peter had cut off, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with Him?” It was recognition of which he was ashamed. A reputation from which he fled to Galilee and a life of fishing. That was his reputation in the Ancient Near East, but he also has a reputation in our eyes. We know of his impulsivity and boldness, his cowardice and empty promise making, his thoughts of worldly things instead of the things of God. His bad reputation tastes of feet and stinks of fish. If we are generous, we recognize his potential as he steps out of the boat in faith, but that generosity runs out in the courtyard of denial. We struggle to understand why Jesus would pick this guy to be The Rock. In our own lives we too develop reputations. Sometimes the one with our family and friends differs from the one in our communities. Some are good, but some, like Peter’s, are less than stellar. We worry what people who know our reputations will think about the new lives we have found in Christ. Will they accept that we have changed or will they hold fast to who we were?  These are real worries. Peter worries. Christian worries. Worries that cause the heart to tremble. But have no fear! God can overcome even the worst reputation. Peter is all the evidence we need to quench our doubts. In the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, he goes from less than stellar to super nova with his reputation. Rather than looking to arrest the Galilean brigand, the crowds long for his shadow to supernaturally heal as it passes over them. His new reputation is as a mighty man of God, but he never lets it go to his head. He maintains his humble boldness and constantly redirects the adoring gazes to Jesus. The power of God completely changed Peter’s reputation and it can change ours. God calls us to live humbly dependent upon Him without concern for what others think. As we live out such a life, boldly ministering in the name of Jesus, only concerned about the accolades of the Father, our reputations will become ones that bring glory to God.

Prayer: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. The One who Was and Is and Is to come. Today we ask You to change our reputations into ones that glorify You and Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:                 Made New by Lincoln Brewster

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we read of Peter’s reputation being changed through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. He is not the only one in Scripture whose reputation has been changed by God. Our challenge is to study the scriptures in search of someone else whose reputation was changed by God.

Day 37: Bold In The Spirit

Wednesday of Holy Week

Scripture: Acts 4:8-10

NRS 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.

Devotional: In the courtyard of the high priest, Peter cursed his denial of knowing the Nazarene. His heart was ruled by fear and pride, but their reign would be brought to an end by a common rooster’s crow. As Peter was being humbled by his failure, Jesus looked him in the eye and Peter began to weep.  That failure was the motivating force in Peter’s life until he shared breakfast with Jesus. The forgiveness on the shore empowered him to lead while the disciples waited for power from on high. The arrival of that power brought about the complete transformation of Peter. The one who feared the authorities was now boldly speaking against the rulers and elders in the name of Jesus Christ. In bold humility he accuses them, “The one you crucified, that God raised from the dead, has healed this man!” The coward has become the proclaimer of glory as he refocuses the crowd’s attention from the power and authority of the Sanhedrin to the power and authority of God’s Risen Son. What has changed? How does the cowardly lion become Simba returning to defeat Scar? The Holy Spirit. When Peter stood in the garden, he stood in his own power with no authority. That is the failing reality of depending upon ourselves. When we depend upon God’s strength, we can accomplish all to which He has called us. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we achieve great success that brings glory to God. The difference in courtyard Peter and the Peter standing before the authorities was the reception of power from on high. When the Spirit descended at Pentecost, it empowered him to do great and mighty things in the name of Jesus Christ. In the Spirit, he was empowered to lead, to preach, to heal and even boldly confront authorities. Such a transformation is God’s will for all of our lives. He wants the Spirit to make us into humbly bold Christians who live in ways that bring glory to Him. Do our lives reflect His will? Do our lives glorify God? Do our lives make it easy for others to believe in Jesus?

Prayer: Lord, today we pray for a renewal of Your Holy Spirit in each of our lives. We ask to feel His power surging through our bodies. We ask You to provide us an opportunity to minister to someone in the power out of this power. In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:              Holy Spirit performed by Kari Jobe

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we ask the Holy Spirit for guidance in our lives. How does He want us to minister to the world in bold humility? 

Day 36: A Healer Is Born

Tuesday of Holy Week

Scripture: Acts 3:6-7

NRS 6 But Peter said, "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

Devotional: When we read this piece of Scripture, we tend to focus on the miraculous healing that God does through Peter and John as they tell the paralytic to get up and walk. We are amazed that a healer was born from one who didn’t have enough faith in the high priest’s courtyard to acknowledge that he was a disciple. Sometimes we even rearrange our priorities, as we read the contrast between worldly possessions and faith in Jesus. All of these are appropriate, but they overlook another transformation that has happened in The Rock. The humble boldness required for Peter to proclaim, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk,” is awe inspiring, but what about the first? “I have no silver and gold.” The one who asked Jesus about his earthly reward for following, now has no silver or gold? The one worried about not having enough food to eat as the disciples crossed over the Sea of Galilee after the feeding of the five thousand, now has no silver or gold? The one who returned to his old life worrying about his future, now has no silver or gold? No, he didn’t. Jesus sent the disciples out into ministry without a purse to teach them to depend upon God. Transformed Peter was living out that command. His trust in God was complete. His dependence upon God was absolute. He had no silver and gold because he didn’t need silver and gold. His faith in God the Son, not only healed paralytics, but also provided for his everyday needs. A healer had been born, but he was born out of someone who was humble enough to depend upon God for the smallest things in life. The leader of the church had no money. What a statement? We can wonder why? Did he not have any from the start? Did he give it all away? Was it taken from him? But all of those are unanswerable questions. We cannot know why and Luke didn’t want us to know why. We just need to know that he didn’t have any. His lack revealed a life completely dependent upon the providence of God. That is the message Luke wanted his readers to learn. Transformation in Christ includes embracing complete dependence upon God. Are we living out Luke’s truth? Are we living our Christian walks in a way that reflects complete dependence upon God or are we taking care of ourselves and only turning to God when we are desperate?”

Prayer: Creator of the universe. Maker of heaven and earth. You who put the trees of the garden there to feed us and gave us the animals of the field. Lord we come today asking that You instill in each of us absolute trust in You so that out of that trust we can live completely dependent upon You. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise: More Precious than Silver performed by Paul McClure, Bethel Church

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we find someone to serve out of our faith in God. Not in a way that is anonymous like writing a check but one where we come face to face with someone in need. Let us minister to them out of our dependence upon God.

Day 35: Church Growth

Monday of Holy Week

Scripture: Acts 2:41-42

NRS 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Devotional: Peter has led and preached. We have seen the Church grow at an unbelievable rate as three thousand people were baptized and joined the church following his very first sermon. They became the first “new” members of the Church. Did they take membership vows and simply show up for worship on Sunday? Or, were their lives dramatically changed as they re-prioritized what was important to them? Luke gives us a clear answer. They devoted themselves daily to the teaching of the Apostles, fellowship, breaking bread, praying, and selling possessions to share resources with each other so that no was in need. Peter and the apostles were performing many wonders and signs and the people were being filled with awe, with glad and generous hearts, and with giving spirits, as they made this Christian walk together. Peter, forgiven and empowered, was following the will of God and leading others to do the same. This was God’s plan from the beginning. Peter was to become The Rock, but in his despair from a missing body, Peter chose not to cooperate and returned to his old life. Forgiveness freed him to make a new choice. This time he chose the path of cooperation and allowed God to work in his life. Each did their part. Peter trusted in the power of the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the Good News. In His prevenient grace, God the Holy Spirit freed people’s hearts to respond to the sermon. Daily the church grew. God gently wooed those hearing Peter’s proclamation of the Good News to come back to Him. Peter preached boldly but left the outcome to God. As always, God was faithful to provide and daily the number of the Church grew. Peter cooperated with God and the church grew exponentially. Are we doing the same? Are we pursuing God’s will for our lives? Are we doing something with which God can cooperate to bring about unbelievable results? Just as God’s plans on Pentecost involved working through Peter to grow the church, His plans today include working through each of us to continue growing His Kingdom. Will we cooperate?

Prayer: God of Peter and the Apostles, who worked in cooperation with their obedience to grow Your Church at an unbelievable rate. We ask that you give us a vision of Your will for our lives, so we may follow in obedience, and witness You doing unbelievable things today. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise: Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective Experiment

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we find the early church sharing everything they have with each other so that no one was in need. Our challenge is to embrace the spiritual discipline of simplicity as we find something to give to another to meet their needs.

Day 34: A Preacher Is Born

Sixth Saturday in Lent

Scripture: Acts 2:14-16

NRS 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

Devotional: Yesterday, we saw Peter rise as the leader of the early church. He became The Rock upon which Jesus would build His Church. Today, we find a preacher who was so inspiring that thousands were baptized. Yesterday, the believers chose a replacement apostle as they gathered in an upper room waiting on power from on high.  Today, the Spirit has descended, tongues of flame have appeared, unknown languages have been spoken and accusations of drunkenness have been made. Yesterday, they were devoting themselves to prayer. Today, they are boldly proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday, forgiveness and humility empowered Peter to lead. Today, the Holy Spirit has empowered Peter to interpret the Scriptures and to boldly proclaim that Jesus is both Lord and Messiah. In his humble boldness, he denied the accusations of drunkenness and pointed all who were gathered to the explanation offered by the prophet Joel. When he had finished his Holy Spirit empowered preaching, three thousand people got baptized. The very person who had failed to catch fish when he returned to his former life, was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. Instead of dragging a net with one hundred and fifty-three fish to shore, he was catching three thousand people for the Kingdom. That same transforming power of the Holy Spirit resides in each and every one of us. The same power that turned a humbled fisherman into a humbly bold preacher can transform each of us. Peter was transformed by the Holy Spirit into a leader, a preacher, a healer and a church grower. Into what will the Spirit transform us?

Prayer: Lord, today we pray for transformation in our own lives. We confess our sin and accept Your forgiveness. May You transform us through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May we become servants who fulfill the needs of the Kingdom. Mold us into Your will for our lives. We pray all of this in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Song of praise:             The Same Power by Jeremy Camp

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we study. We have seen the transformation of Peter as recorded in Scripture. Our challenge is to search the Scriptures for other stories of transformation. How do our stories of transformation relate to those recorded in Scripture?

Day 33: A Leader is Born

6th Friday in Lent

Scripture: Acts 1:15-17

NRS 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16 "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus-- 17 for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."

Devotional: Knowing that the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are companion books written by the physician, we sometimes wonder why the compilers of the New Testament put the Gospel of John between them. The simple answer is they were grouping the four gospels together. They began with the three synoptic gospels then let John stand alone. They began with the histories of Jesus’ earthly ministry then moved to the history of the early Church. Unintentionally, their ordering gave us a more complete picture of Peter’s life. John concluded his gospel with a breakfast conversation that brought forgiveness, freedom and ministry focus as Jesus asked Peter to again, “Follow Me.” The Acts of the Apostles depicts a Peter who abandoned his notion of returning to his former life, as he rejoined the ten and one hundred and twenty-nine other disciples in Jerusalem. Peter the failure had suddenly become Peter the leader. He stood in the midst of the believers and gave a Scriptural explanation of Judas’ behavior before he organized them to choose a replacement. Peter was owning his role as “The Rock,” and assuming leadership of this ragtag bunch of Jesus followers. He would lead them to grow fully into the body of Christ as thousands joined them daily. It was in this birth of a leader that we see the power of God’s forgiveness at work. Peter was convicted of his failure as the rooster crowed. In his guilt and shame, he turned away from the life to which Jesus had called him and returned to his fishing boat. Bold Peter had been completely humbled, but Jesus was not about to surrender the call on Peter’s life. He met him on the beach to offer forgiveness for his denial and assurance that he was up to the job of being “The Rock.” In that moment, Peter was freed from the guilt and debilitating power of his failure. In that moment, he was born again to lead the Church in the power of the Holy Spirit. In that moment, he became humbly bold. The same is true for each of us. When we encounter the forgiveness for our failures offered through Christ Jesus, we too are freed from their guilt and power. With that freedom we are empowered and expected to lead ministries in the church. Will we embrace this freedom in Christ and become the leaders He needs today to transform the world through humble boldness?

Prayer: Lord, today we see the birth of a leader as Peter overcomes past guilt and shame through the power of Your grace.  Forgiven and freed he assumed the role to which You had called him. We pray that You would assure each of us that we too are forgiven and freed. Motivate us into ministry roles within the Body of Christ, Amen.

Song of praise:            Forgiven performed by David Crowder

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we pray, but today our prayer is a listening prayer. Our challenge today is to spend five minutes silently before God listening for His still small voice boldly proclaiming our forgiveness and freedom. When we have heard it, we offer Him thanks for the abundance of His love and grace in our lives.

Day 32: A Partner For Ministry

6th Thursday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:20-22

^{NRS 20} Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" ²² Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!"

Devotional: After Peter had received assurance from Jesus that he would be up to the task of having the Church built upon him, he turned to see the beloved disciple following them. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” The question recorded was vague. Was the evangelist suggesting that Peter was asking how the beloved disciple would die? Or was he asking if the Beloved should also follow Jesus? Or was he asking if the Beloved was supposed to help him feed the sheep? Jesus interpreted his question as being about the disciple’s death and responded with, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” If Peter was going to be up to the task of building the Church, he couldn’t be distracted by thoughts of others. At first glance, we might think Jesus was responding to jealousy or competition, but Jesus didn’t condemn. He simply refocused Peter with the repeated command, “Follow me.” Sometimes we need the same refocusing. We get distracted. We worry how our Christian walk compares with others. We jealously think others have more prosperity and blessing than us. We feel like we are the only ones doing things in the church. The distractions are many, but Jesus’ words to Peter are also for us, “What is that to you? Follow Me.” Jesus wants us to follow Him in the service of His Kingdom without the pettiness of worrying about how we measure up with others. This is the last we hear of Peter in John’s Gospel. The evangelist didn’t inform us of Peter’s response, but we find the rest of the story in the Acts of the Apostles. Saint Luke describes Peter so focused on sharing the Good News of Jesus that the church grew by thousands every day. He also reveals Peter’s partner in ministry. The first time the humbly bold Peter healed someone, John was by his side. The one of whom Peter appeared jealous was now his partner in ministry. Together they built a Church that has endured. Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs to do ministry and they have continued the tradition of having partners in ministry. We need to remember that today. When we gather as the body of Christ, everyone gathered is our partner in ministry. Together we are called and sent to share the Good News and build the Church?

Prayer: God of Peter and God of John. The One who transforms rivals into partners in ministry through the power of Your Holy Spirit to build an enduring church. Lord we ask that you draw each of us together into partnerships from which we can engage in ministry to grow Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:         Make Us One performed by Jesus Culture

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today in recognizing the nature of ministry together we are challenged to spend some time with our brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate what God is doing in our midst.

Day 31: Bleak Yet Glorious

6th Wednesday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:18-19

^{NRS 18} Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." ¹⁹ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."

Devotional: Jesus had been inquiring about Peter’s willingness to give up his life. Peter responded with great clarity. He once thought he could give up his life for Jesus, but he has learned that he was wrong. Assured of Peter’s new found humility, Jesus accepted his ability to love Him like a brother and called him to serve the flock from this new attitude. This would be a fitting conclusion to John’s Gospel, but he was not done. He still needed to point his readers to Peter’s future partner in ministry, a ministry which included writing this Gospel. The author in him couldn’t resist using a little foreshadowing in regards to Peter’s future. He wanted to provide a hint of Peter’s humble boldness. It is important for us to remember that this Gospel was being written long after Peter’s death. The author was aware of both Peter’s death and the means by which he died. He knows the rest of the story and Peter’s fulfillment of his bold promise at the Last Supper. With His final instruction to feed His sheep, Jesus firmly established Peter as the rock upon which His Church would be built, but He wanted Peter to know that he will ultimately become the man he professed to be before the rooster crowed.  He began to talk of Peter’s future. His words pointed to the bleakness of Peter being led places he would not wish to go. They also hint at God’s transforming power. In essence Jesus was saying, “Peter when you were young, you were bold, always ready with a sword, but in this new found humility, as you age and grow in this relationship with me, you will humbly follow the authorities, just as I have, to places you do not wish to go. Yes, for now you offer me phileo and I accept it, but know that in the future, under the power of the Holy Spirit you will have agape. Knowing this truth, come and follow Me.” The evangelist makes sure his readers understand these words were about Peter’s death.   Church tradition completes the story as it records his death upside down on a cross. One day Peter would give up his life, but for the immediate future all that the Lord required of him was to take up the task of serving. It was that assurance that empowered him to wait in Jerusalem for power from on high, through which he would become the very man that Jesus had seen three years before on the shore of Galilee. John offers hope by hinting at the rest of Peter’s story. What is the rest of ours? How do we see our lives impacting the future of the Church and world, empowered by the Holy Spirit?

Prayer: Father, today we pray for assurance that we are up to the task to which You have called us. Just as Peter needed to know that he would be able to offer more to Christ in the future, we need to know that as we grow in you, we will have so much more to give. Reveal this to us today, for it is in Your Son Jesus’ name we ask, Amen.

Song of praise:                  Take My Life by Chris Tomlin

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today our challenge is to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we ask ourselves, “Where is God leading us to serve?”

Day 30: A Twist with the Third

5th Tuesday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:17

^{NRS 17} He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

Devotional: At last we reach the third question. In the English, we seek explanation for the thrice repetition. We might connect it with the threefold denial, but we would completely miss the beauty of the original exchange. A beautiful restoration of Peter that is available to each of us today. Twice Jesus has asked “Peter do you agape me?” Twice Peter has responded “Jesus I phileo you.” Twice Jesus has asked, “Peter, when you said you would lay your life down were you just posing for people or was it real?” Twice Peter has replied, “I was posing, but I’m done. All I have is real brotherly love for you.” Jesus asked if Peter was done with his bold, impulsive claims. Jesus asked a second time to give Peter a chance to reflect on his answer. Now Jesus asks a third question. In the English translation, it looks the same as the first two, but the Greek reveals a subtle twist. Jesus twice asked if Peter loved Him enough to give up his life for Him. Peter twice responded, “Lord you know I don’t, I couldn’t even pass the rooster test, but I love you like a brother.” With an assurance that Peter had the humility needed to be the person upon which Christ would build His Church and a certainty that Peter had an authentic love for Him, Jesus asked the third question. It was words of reconciliation that moved Jesus towards Peter instead of demanding that Peter come to Him. “Peter do you phileo me?” “Yes, Lord You know everything, how I have boasted and how I have failed, but You know that I phileo You. I love You like a brother.” This moment was the turning point of Peter’s life. It was his new birth. Jesus wasn’t demanding something from Peter that he was currently incapable of giving. He was accepting Peter where he was with all that he could currently give. Jesus could transform someone with authentic brotherly love into someone who would lay down his life. In this moment Jesus empowered Peter with humble boldness. He reaffirms his role as shepherd to Jesus’ flock. Use that same brotherly love you have for Me to take care of them. As Peter keeps loving and keeps serving, he will become the person he wanted to be at the Passover supper. A day will come when the humbly bold Peter will be able to lay down his life, but that all started when Jesus simply accepted his brotherly love.

Prayer: Lord we ask you to meet us where we are today. Strengthen us, so we can move from this place to where you want us to serve You and the Kingdom with our whole heart, in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:        Old For New performed by Hannah McClure

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we find Peter amidst the other disciples, but in a spirit of solitude as he encounters Jesus. Find a moment today, even if it is amidst many people, to quietly seek God with your whole heart. Devote time to Him in a spirit of solitude and devotion.

Day 29: The Second Question

5th Monday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:16

^{NRS 16} A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep."

Devotional: Yesterday we encountered our first question in the Greek, “Peter do you love me enough to give up your life like you said you would,” and the reply “No lord, I love you like a brother.” Today we encounter the second exchange and it, with the exception of tending sheep instead of feeding lambs, is identical. “Peter son of John do you agape me?” “Yes Lord, you know that I phileo you.” With the first pointed question, Jesus confronted Peter’s former misplaced boldness. It was a boldness that depended upon Peter’s own power and it would always fall short. Jesus is hoping the rooster truly humbled Peter and his answer seems to imply that it did. It is an important enough issue to warrant a double check. Jesus asks again, “Peter are you sure you are not going to be making bold, baseless statements on my behalf that are just going to lead to shame and humiliation instead of to my glory?’ “Yes Lord, I am sure, I have had all the shame and humiliation that I can handle in this lifetime. All I have is you and I will serve you in whatever way you lead me to do.” As we read this second exchange we have to ask ourselves, “Is this reassurance of humility for Jesus or for Peter?” Jesus, God the Son, knows all things. He knows Peter has found the humility required to lead His Church, but Simon Peter doesn’t. He still doubts his role in the Church, especially his qualifications for leadership. Sometimes when we are asked a question, we are quick to blurt an answer that we think the person asking wants to hear. We haven’t really given the thought required to make sure the words of our mouth match the condition of our heart. When we are asked the same question a second time, we have a moment to really reflect on the answer we first gave. “Peter you say you have traded in boldness and brashness for humility, are you sure?” We can imagine the long pause the text cannot convey, as Peter really thinks about his second answer. “Yes Lord, I am sure.” As Christians we are going to be asked tough questions in our lives. We are going to be asked questions that challenge our faith and the way we live as Christians. We need to take time to reflect on our answers before we speak, so when we respond it is with the certainty of Peter’s second reply.

Prayer: God the Father we come to You in the name of God the Son, thanking You for the assurance of faith You place in our hearts.  That assurance makes us humble enough to serve others and bold enough to stand proudly for Your love. Give us the opportunity today to share Your love with another in a humbly bold kind of way, Amen.

Song of praise: It Is Well With My Soul performed by BYU Vocal Point

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today Jesus has reassured Peter’s heart that it is fit and ready for service. Today, find a way to serve someone unexpectedly in a way that surprises them with joy.

Day 28: Greek Questions

5th Saturday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:15

^{NRS 15} When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

Devotional: The fishing failure, the full net, the recognition of the Lord and the breakfast of bread and fish are the final pieces to set the stage for what is truly the main act of John chapter twenty-one. The stage setting began all the way back with Jesus explaining Agape love as giving up one’s life for another and Peter professing that he would go to the grave before he denied Christ. The charcoal was but embers, their plates were empty and their bellies were full. Breakfast was over and it was time for conversation, despite the disciples’ fear of asking questions. Jesus began to speak. His words were not directed to the entire group; they were only for Peter. As we read the text in our English translations of the Bible, Jesus poses the question, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter replies, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus then tells him to, “Feed my lambs.” If this were the only question and response in this story, we wouldn’t give it any further thought. It would be a completely reasonable exchange understood as Jesus establishing Peter as the head of His Church, but this is not the lone question. In fact Jesus is going to ask this question two more times which causes us to label this exchange a little peculiar. The peculiarity only exists in the English translation. For a full understanding of the exchange we must look at the original language of the New Testament, Koine Greek. The English language has only one word for love, but Greek has many. This exchange employs two different ones. Here is their conversation substituting the Greek words for love. “Peter do you agape me?” “Yes Lord, I phileo you.” We know agape is a self-sacrificing, give-up-your-life kind of love. Phileo is brotherly love, hence the city of brotherly love being Philadelphia. Now let’s consider the exchange, with the expanded meanings instead of just the words for love. “Peter do you love me enough to give up your life like you said you would?” “No Jesus, but I do love you like a brother.” Jesus is beginning the process of restoring Peter’s faith and confidence. At the same time, he needs to see if Peter has the humble heart required to lead His Church. “Peter are you still willing to make bold statements that you cannot possibly fulfill?” “No Lord, I am not.” As Christians, we need to have humble hearts that place others before ourselves but we have to be bold enough to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them. Let us never forget that humility always precedes boldness.

Prayer: Lord, today we pray that you would make us humbly bold in our Christian walk; that you would humble us enough to be most effective in our service to Your Kingdom, yet bold enough to die for you, Amen.

Song of praise:         Your Love is Extravagant by Darrell Evans

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we confess our misplaced boldness, ask for humility and then seek areas in our life where we can be humbly bold.

Day 27: Scared to Ask

5th Friday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:13-14

^{NRS 13} Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Devotional: According to John the Evangelist, this was the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples. The first was in the upper room, the second was when doubting Thomas was present and this breakfast party was the third. Three times the disciples have seen Him, talked to Him and touched Him, yet they still do not have the confidence that it was really Jesus who stood before them. Verse twelve describes the disciples scared to ask, “Who are you?” because they “knew” it was Jesus. They knew, but they lacked confidence in their knowledge as they still wanted to question the identity of this fellow who invited them to breakfast. Wouldn’t we be the same way? Resurrection is a tough thing to grasp. Someone was dead but now they are alive? You watched them hang on a cross but now they cook breakfast? Our eyes see it, but we are not completely sure we can believe that it is true. John wrote his gospel so his readers would believe in the truth of Jesus Christ. Jesus wanted the same certain belief for His disciples. The last real interaction Jesus had with His disciples was around the Passover table where He washed their feet. At the table, He gave them bread and told them to eat it in remembrance of Him. At breakfast, on the shore of Galilee, Jesus repeated the same action, He took bread and gave it to them. A gesture that screamed, “Eat and remember. Know that this is really Me! Remember that I have come to serve you.”  The second gesture mimicked Him giving them fish at the feeding of the five thousand. It was a reminder that just as Jesus came to serve, so too were they supposed to serve. It is this reminder to serve that leads the story into tomorrow’s encounter between Jesus and Peter. In our own walks with Christ, we are going to have those moments of fear and uncertainty. We will think it is God, but not be completely sure. We can rest assured that, in those moments, God will give us reassuring gestures that remind us He is always with us.

Prayer: Lord we pray that You will meet us at Your table and strengthen us with the assurance that You will always be with us. Let us smell the charcoal and fish as we taste the bread of Your forgiveness offered on the beach. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:                To the Table by Zach Williams

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: John Wesley referred to the spiritual disciplines as means of grace. One of those means of grace was Holy Communion which always comes in the context of worship. Today reflect on the act of Jesus giving bread to the disciples on the beach and find a moment to enter into private worship as we praise the resurrected Christ.

Day 26: Breakfast Invitation

5th Thursday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:9-12

^{NRS 9} When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord.

Devotional: Peter, still wet from his swim, stood on the shore as the disciples climbed out of the boat. They see a charcoal fire on which were fish and bread, and there is Jesus cooking. The one who already had fish on the fire invited them to bring some of the fish they had just caught. Why would He ask for something He already possesses? He asked them to bring fish to Him when He fed the five thousand, but He didn’t really need it then either. Just like we recognized God’s presence when He does something He has done in the past, Jesus was doing the same thing. Peter’s recognition has yet to be recorded, but his despair was being replaced by His former boldness. He, alone, hauls the net full of fish to shore. As Simon Peter hauls, Jesus invites the gawking disciples to join Him for breakfast. Was it really Him? Should they ask? In the end they didn’t because they knew it was Him. But how did they know? They questioned His identity, so He couldn’t have looked the same. A name tag can probably be ruled out as well. The answer lies in the simple truth of God being unchanging. The disciples had journeyed with Him for three years and seen so many recognizable things. From their calling, they recognized Jesus in the net full of fish. From the lunch shared with five thousand people, they recognized the simple meal of fish and bread. From being invited to share what they had to feed that massive group on the hillside, they recognized Jesus in His grace filled words of inclusion as He asked them to bring some of their fish. The resurrected Jesus behaved in the same way as the Jesus they followed from their fishing boats, just as the Triune God behaves the same way today that He did in Scripture and throughout history. Sometimes we don’t feel the presence of God, but we recognize the ways we have experienced Him in the past and the ways He has behaved in Scripture. That recognition gives us great confidence that, despite not feeling Him, He is with us.  Recognizing Jesus’ presence gave Peter the strength to drag a net that was too heavy for all of the disciples. When we recognize God with us, we are strengthened in the very same way.

Prayer: God of yesterday, today and tomorrow; the One who is unchanging and ever present; Lord we come to you today and ask that you reveal Yourself to us in old ways that we might recognize You and find new hope. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:         God With Us performed by Jesus Culture

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we find the disciples being invited to breakfast with the Lord where they are going to find renewal and hope. Let us fast today from breakfast, lunch and dinner so we can encounter Christ at breakfast tomorrow.

Day 25: Recognition

5th Wednesday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:7-8

^{NRS 7} That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. ⁸ But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

Devotional: The net sagged full of fish. The disciples tried but failed to haul it aboard. It was in this little moment of failure that the beloved disciple, John, recognized the figure on the beach. He was present the first time they had a net this full. It was at the command of Christ. As they struggled with this second catch from an identical command, he knew the one issuing the command was Jesus. John and Peter were companions on this journey from the very beginning. They were together when Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah. They both heard the Father command them on the mountain top, “This is my Son, listen to Him!” They shared the Passover meal. They both slept in the garden and followed Jesus to the high priest’s courtyard. Having heard Mary’s report that the body was stolen, they raced each other to the empty tomb. The body was gone and they each returned home. In this fishing boat was the next time they were mentioned together by name, but they don’t share in the blindness brought about by failure. John, not Peter, recognized their Master and called out, “It is the Lord!” Trusting his friend, Simon Peter put on some clothes and jumped into the sea. The text doesn’t reveal Peter recognizing Jesus. It simply records that he heard and acted. It appeared he wanted to believe that it could be the Lord, but needed personal confirmation before he fully got his hopes up. Fully dressed he began to swim for shore. The disciples set out in the boat, but they were dragging the net full of fish, so Peter won this hundred yard dash. So here is our scene, a figure presumed to be Jesus on the beach, the disciples in the boat dragging the net and Peter swimming towards the shore fully clothed. It sounds kind of comical, but we can still relate. Who hasn’t had those moments when we get a glimpse of hope, but are scared to believe it is true until we can confirm it with our own eyes. Whether it is Peter’s despair or our own, we all want hope. Peter’s despair was so great that for hope to be restored it required the certainty only found by personally seeing and touching Jesus. The good news is that we too can find the sure and certain hope that is Christ alone.

Prayer: God of the sea and God of the shore. The One who calls to us in our despair and gives us signs of hope onto which we can grasp. We rush to You seeking certainty. Lord, place in our hearts a sense of assurance and certainty that we have futures filled with hope in You.  May our sense of despair be vanquished so our lives can be marked by Your joy. We pray in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Song of praise:      In Christ Alone performed by Margaret Becker, 

                                             Marie Brennan and Joanne Hogg

                                               

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today we meditate. In today’s devotional time, spend some quiet time looking and listening for Christ on the shore of whatever is troubling you in life. Prepare your heart to swim to Him and receive His hope.

Day 24: Another Net Full

4th Tuesday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:4-6

^{NRS 4} Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." ⁶ He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.

Devotional: In Saint Luke’s record of the call of Peter, he depicts Jesus teaching from Peter’s fishing boat. The future Savior of the World then asked Peter to put out in the deep and let down his nets. Peter was weary after an unsuccessful night of fishing and almost done putting up his nets, but he reluctantly obeyed.  The nets became so full they were tearing and the boats were about to sink. That was the beginning of Peter’s ministry. John records a night when Peter has returned to his old life. Once again he had fished through the night and caught nothing. The one difference in John’s account was that they were still in the middle of the lake when the Savior called to them from the beach. He shouted a question that highlighted Peter’s failure in his return to his old life, “Have you caught any fish?” The reply was hauntingly full of shame in its simplicity, “No.” They hadn’t caught any fish when Jesus called him to fish for people. They hadn’t caught any people, and now their nets were empty, once again. That one simple word captured all of Peter’s shame, frustration and despair. It reverberated the sound of defeat across the surf to the figure on the shore. In the lingering darkness just after day break, the fisherman did not realize the lone figure was Jesus. They did not know that defeat, despair and hopelessness had been conquered once and for all at His resurrection. In an effort to cast light into their darkness, Jesus gave what should have been a familiar command, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will catch some.” At this point, John records neither recognition nor even the exasperation that Luke recorded in the call narrative, but he does record their simple obedience. They didn’t talk, they just cast their net as instructed. Peter’s state of mind was so dejected that he didn’t recognize that it was Jesus giving the instructions. Perhaps he was resigned to the belief that Jesus was dead and the body stolen. That belief was sure to lead to the belief that his life of following Jesus was just as dead. Still he obeyed. He was rewarded with a net too full to haul aboard. Have we ever experienced the kind of despair that is so debilitating we can only follow simple commands? “Eat your dinner. Go to work. Take your medicine.” Those moments are part of life, even the Christian life, but those moments of despair never get the last word. It is in those moments that Christ shows up on the beaches of our despair to bring hope and a future. In our own obedience, we cast our nets and Jesus fills them so full of fish that we cannot even drag them into the boat. Sometimes it takes experiencing that kind of despair to really embrace the hope that is found in another net full of fish.

Prayer: Lord, today our prayer is simple. Strengthen us to be obedient to Your call amidst the situations of our life, so we may experience the hope of another net full, Amen.

Song of praise:          Your Grace Finds Me  by Matt Redman

                                                

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today our challenge involves submission. Submission is an act of obedience to God; just as Peter obediently cast the net, we must submit to the simple commands of Jesus in our life. Today listen for that call of Christ from the beach and obediently submit to what He is asking.

Day 23: Still Fishing

4th Monday in Lent

Scripture: John 21:1-3

^{NRS 1} After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. ² Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. ³ Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Devotional: John chapter twenty draws to a close with the resurrected Jesus appearing to Mary in the garden and the disciples behind closed doors where He breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit. It concludes with a final statement about Jesus’ many signs and the purpose for the writing of his Gospel. John wrote so his readers might come to believe. In all of that Peter is never mentioned by name. The last place we read the name of Simon Peter was at the empty tomb where we were told that he “returned home.” The Sea of Tiberias is where chapter twenty-one begins. We also know it as the Sea of Galilee, whose coastal town of Capernaum was Peter’s hometown. Simon Peter has been joined by six other disciples in Galilee. Peter decided to go fishing and they decided to accompany him. Now this didn’t mean that he grabbed the tackle box and the Zebco. He was not embarking on some leisure recreation to comfort him in his grief. He was headed back to the boat from which Jesus had called him to fish for people. Peter was returning to his former life, commercial fishing. Three years of following Jesus has done nothing for his skill at fishing. After a long night, they caught absolutely nothing! He took a crew with him big enough to handle the type of catch he last made. The group even included his former fishing partners the Sons of Zebedee, but they still caught nothing. Peter was a failure at fishing. He chose to follow Christ and failed him in the courtyard of the high priest. He returned to his life of fishing and failed once again. Can we imagine how Peter must have been feeling? All of the fear, uncertainty, confusion and frustration must have been overwhelming. Do we have the same experience at times? When we encounter situations in our Christian life that completely take the wind out of our sails, instead of focusing on Christ, do we focus on our worldly life? Do we let fear, uncertainty and frustration overwhelm us to the point of blinding us to Christ? If that is us, we are in the company of a rock. Peter was the rock before he went fishing and he was still the rock, he just didn’t know it yet. Jesus was going to shine through to Peter on the beach and He will shine through to us. Fear and failure is never the end when we are in Christ Jesus.

Prayer: Lord reaffirm for us today that our lives are rightly lived in You. Remind us that we don’t need to find our purpose or comfort in our worldly lives. You are our comfort, our purpose and our joy. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Song of praise:            Shout to the Lord by Darlene Zschech

                                               

Spiritual discipline challenge: Today our challenge is simplicity. Sometimes it is the trappings of our worldly lives that lead us to fear and frustration. Today we get rid of something in our lives that takes our focus away from Christ.