Seeking the Lord
When we think about seeking the Lord, what do we do with the things that we can't do anything about? What is our response? How do we think? Act? Feel? Who do we look for help?
The speaker shared from the passage in John 21, where the Lord is speaking to the apostle Peter. It is after Christ's death and resurrection from the dead. During these last 40 days our Lord was on earth, He taught the disciples many things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). It was here that the Lord spoke to Peter and asked him, "Peter, do you love Me more than these?" In His grace, Christ was giving Peter a chance to publicly announce his love for the Lord after previously denying Him three times. As the people heard Peter's testimony, Christ then revealed to him the future--something Peter could do nothing about. He showed him what sort of death he would die. Now, we are thinking, "this is not the most encouraging message to hear, come on, Jesus; tell him something happy!" But Jesus did command him to a great hope: following Him!
Peter's undesirable circumstance: dying a death like Christ's
What could he change? Nothing
How did he respond? He begins to compare himself with the apostle John. He turned away from the Lord to point at John and ask what was going to happen to him. He was probably wondering if John was also going to suffer the same pain that he was going to have to endure. Instead of trusting in the Lord, he compared his circumstances to someone else's.
Jesus responds: "What is that to you? In other words, John's future is none of your business! You follow Me!"
Christ showed Peter grace by only telling him his story. He did not want Peter to wallow in self-pity, selfishness, and pride, but in love, He convicted him of his sin, and challenged him to a higher goal: following Jesus.
Following Jesus is the only thing that can provide strength to us when we are called to go through things that we have no control over. In other words, they are unpleasant circumstances. We are called to glorify God in all that we do! In the good and the bad, the promise remains that God is good, and He only does things that are good. He allows things in our lives for our good and His glory!
Luke 9:23, "And He said to all, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'"
The speaker shared from the passage in John 21, where the Lord is speaking to the apostle Peter. It is after Christ's death and resurrection from the dead. During these last 40 days our Lord was on earth, He taught the disciples many things concerning the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). It was here that the Lord spoke to Peter and asked him, "Peter, do you love Me more than these?" In His grace, Christ was giving Peter a chance to publicly announce his love for the Lord after previously denying Him three times. As the people heard Peter's testimony, Christ then revealed to him the future--something Peter could do nothing about. He showed him what sort of death he would die. Now, we are thinking, "this is not the most encouraging message to hear, come on, Jesus; tell him something happy!" But Jesus did command him to a great hope: following Him!
Peter's undesirable circumstance: dying a death like Christ's
What could he change? Nothing
How did he respond? He begins to compare himself with the apostle John. He turned away from the Lord to point at John and ask what was going to happen to him. He was probably wondering if John was also going to suffer the same pain that he was going to have to endure. Instead of trusting in the Lord, he compared his circumstances to someone else's.
Jesus responds: "What is that to you? In other words, John's future is none of your business! You follow Me!"
Christ showed Peter grace by only telling him his story. He did not want Peter to wallow in self-pity, selfishness, and pride, but in love, He convicted him of his sin, and challenged him to a higher goal: following Jesus.
Following Jesus is the only thing that can provide strength to us when we are called to go through things that we have no control over. In other words, they are unpleasant circumstances. We are called to glorify God in all that we do! In the good and the bad, the promise remains that God is good, and He only does things that are good. He allows things in our lives for our good and His glory!
Luke 9:23, "And He said to all, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'"
- Salvation: "deny yourself", in Christ by grace through faith, we are dead to sin and alive to God!
- Service/Sacrifice/Surrender/Suffering: "take up your cross daily", we are called to joyfully take up the "thing/circumstance" God has called us to for our good and His glory!
- Seeking: "follow Me", we come to know God through His word so that we can walk with Jesus daily! Following Jesus starts with knowing God! As you come to know Him through scripture, prayer, and fellowship, you begin to see more clearly how to walk in His paths. His ways won't confuse you if you know Him! He will might not be pleasant, but you trust Him because you know and have seen His faithfulness.
Seek the Lord! Follow Jesus! He is good and forgiving, and abounds toward you with love. All good things you receive are gifts off grace from His hand. For, "...every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17) Walk with Jesus! Get to know Him better. Preach the gospel to yourself daily to have perspective on who you are in and because of Christ!
Do not let the cares of this world drag you down. Don't give in to the temptation to complain or compare yourself with others. Do not only seek pity for your burden, but listen to Truth! Don't let you emotions control you mind, but follow God's truth alone!
Follow Jesus!
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