Future Days

‘Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.…’

John 21:18 & 19a

Not everything that glorifies God is pleasant for us to experience.  During the course of the conversation when Christ restores Peter, He raises the subject of Peter’s future.  Christ is very clear about what Peter’s future holds.  John adds this explanation as to why Christ said what He did.  ‘This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.’ Regardless of how much this would ‘glorify God’ it was not going to be a pleasant experience for Peter.  That does not make it any less the will of God, nor does it change how the circumstances would come to be.  We want to come to terms with this for our own benefit.  The text before us shows us that Christ gave Peter insights about his future days.  He may not necessarily give us those same insights.  What is important for us to understand is that Christ has a future for us which will glorify God.  He is fully aware of what that future is, and exactly how it will glorify Him.  It may, as a personal experience, not be particularly pleasant for us,  but that is not really necessary.  Christ reserves our most pleasant experiences for our eternal future with Him.  These are the days of hardness and endurance for us.  They will soon be over.  We may glorify God by the hard things now, and He will get the glory, but beyond the hard things, there lies the future of God’s Eternal Day, when we shall ‘ever be with the Lord.’

Our Wise and Sovereign God,
we praise You that You know all our future days with all that they entail.
We rejoice that though they may not be pleasant for us,
yet, they are part of Your plan and will end in Glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Still A Work To Do

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

John 21:15

Some of Peter’s behavior, leads us to think that after his denial of Christ, he did not think he had much future in spiritual work.  He had denied the Lord repeatedly, had failed miserably and had not, as yet, addressed that issue with Christ.  We have seen, over the past few days, that Christ sought Peter out, and raised the issue which had caused the strain in their relationship.  As He raised that issue with Peter, Christ very graciously pointed out to Peter, that there was, in fact, a future for Him in the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.  Just as on three separate occasions in this passage, Christ asks Peter if he loves Him, so after each of those questions, Christ says in turn, ‘Feed my lambs; tend my sheep; and, feed my sheep.’  Peter had returned to his trade of fishing, perhaps, thinking that Christ had no future use for him,  because of his denial.  Here, Christ shows him that He does have a work for Peter to do.  This gives hope to those of us who feel that we have failed the Lord so miserably that He has no future work for us to do.  Perhaps today the Savior Himself has sought you out, raised the subject which has strained your relationship with Him, and is even now convincing you that He has a work yet for you to do for Him.  He is the Ever-Compassionate Christ.  He will yet use you to accomplish His Grand Purpose.  Today, and for many days to come, He has a work for you to do.

O, Great Shepherd of the sheep,
we rejoice in Your ongoing work.
We praise You, that unto us, who often fail you so much,
You still give us a work to do that will glorify You and advance Your Kingdom.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Christ Seeking Peter

This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

John 21:14

In writing his gospel, John, the Apostle, shows us some of the post-resurrection appearances that the other Evangelists do not. We have such an appearance before us today. The context of our text tells us that after Christ had appeared to the disciples the second time in the room where they were meeting on the next Sunday following His resurrection, Peter said to some of the others, ‘I am going fishing.’ We should perhaps consider that Peter and Christ had never, to this point in the narrative, ever discussed Peter’s denial of Christ. This would have been a matter of great distress and embarrassment to Peter. It would have made for great awkwardness for him just to be in the vicinity where Christ was. There is also the fact that when a tradesman is hurting, or trying to sort out a personal issue, he will often resort to work as his comfort zone. We find that while Peter was plying his trade at the end of a night of fishing, Christ sought him out. Let us consider how often it is so with us. We have failed the Lord, perhaps in some spectacular way. We have gone back about our common affairs, conscious that there is an awkwardness between us and Our Lord. Yet, Christ seeks us out. He comes to us where we are, with the purpose of restoring our fellowship with Him. Let us consider today, the gracious effort Christ puts forth as He begins to draw us again to Himself.

Our Gracious and Loving Savior,
we rejoice that You seek us, even when we are not seeking You.
We praise You, that in Your Loving Faithfulness,
You come to us where we are.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

 

‘Cast the Net on the Right Side’

And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

John 21:6

One of the post-resurrection appearances provides miracles which we perhaps seldom consider carefully. Christ appeared to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. Peter, James and John, along with two other disciples had fished all night without catching anything. Christ speaks to them, from the shoreline and asks them if they have succeeded at all, to which they reply, ‘No.’ Christ then instructs them to, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ They did, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of the fish. It was then that John suddenly realized who had offered the advice and said, ‘It is the Lord!’ What can we draw from this for the uplifting of our souls today? Many times we find ourselves laboring away without the Master’s Presence and failing utterly. Christ comes to us, speaks to us, and instructs us to carry out the same labor, but in a different manner, perhaps a manner contrary to ‘accepted practice.’ We obey, and suddenly, that which was not prospering begins to prosper. By this Christ reveals Himself to us, and we begin to understand more of Him. Perhaps you have been laboring hard, but to not much profit. Is Christ today speaking to you and saying, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat?’ Perhaps He is today pointing you in a new direction, that you might know more of Him.

Our most Holy and Wise Savior,
we rejoice that Your ways are best.
Evermore show us what we ought to do,
that we might bring to You the highest praise and glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning