Peter was a follower of Jesus and part of his most intimate group of followers. He was very confident in his commitment to Jesus and reassured him that he was ready to follow him to the death! The Lord told Peter that that wasn’t the case – and that very soon he would instead deny him. We see this exchange in John 13:36-38:

Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

The lack of confidence Jesus had in Peter’s commitment must have hurt him, but it paled in comparison to what he’d experience over the next several days. The Lord had a plan to change Peter deeply – a call God has to each of us that are his followers.

As Jesus stated, Peter indeed denied him three times before he was murdered. Peter abandoned the one he loved in word and deed. After Jesus was resurrected from the grave, he met his disciples and gave Peter a chance to reaffirm – three times – his love for him. Jesus asked Peter in three different ways if he loved him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”. The book of John records that Peter was hurt the third time Jesus asked. Maybe Peter perceived Jesus was reminding him of his three denials. Regardless, these clever questions were part of a process to change him into the rock that the Lord would use to build his church.

Peter was a changed person and it was reported he clung to Christ even as he was killed for his faith. May each of us as Christ followers strive to encounter the Lord in a way that we walk away deeply changed.

Listen in on Kevin’s Message from Last Week
(great insights on the meaning of these 3 questions)

Scandalous love? Those aren’t a pair of words we often use in the church these days, but they might describe the account of Luke 7:36-50 from this week. A Pharisee, named Simon, invites Jesus to a meal at his home, and a woman begins to wash and kiss Jesus’s feet with perfume and her own hair. In the culture of that time, it was customary, but not required, for a host to offer a guest water to wash his feet and to greet him with a kiss on the cheek.  Simon hadn’t done either of these for Jesus. A woman, possibly a prostitue or woman with a bad background, takes this upon herself in an extravgant way.  Simon is shocked at this scandalous display – how could Jesus allow this type of woman to do this? Wouldn’t Jesus know her background if he was a prophet? Jesus tells Simon a simple story to explain the relationship of forgiveness and love and ends it with this explanation:

“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Have we neglected the fact that true love is truth and grace mingled together? Maybe that’s how Simon missed the scene that unfolded at his dinner. Have we been forgiven much? Can we love extravagantly and risk looking ridiculous in our love and appreciation for God and his great forgiveness toward us?

Restored?

This week we reviewed all the major themes we covered in the book of Judges. Hopefully by seeing some of the crazy history of the Israelites and the spin cycle of their lives, we have learned more about how to live restored, obedient lives ourselves.

The big “but”

We started out by looking at how many reasons God’s people gave for not following his commands. The scripture is littered with the word “but” to show the extent of the Israelites disobedience. As we look at ourselves we probably should ask if we are doing the same.  Are we living lives of partial obedience?

The spin begins

In Judges 2:15-17 we see how the Lord raised up Judges to set his people free from the bondage of other nations – but they quickly forgot him! The Bible says they “prostituted” themselves to other Gods. The truth is when we lose track of where the Lord belongs in our lives we lose track of living the way we were designed.

Cry out

In Judges chapter 3 we see God’s people subject to another nation for 8 years – trapped by the consequences of their wayward lives. But in verse nine we read, “But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer”. It’s true for us still today. God responds to a broken and contrite spirit with grace and mercy.

IF

The story of Barak is one of a man who obeyed God’s plan, but only when his own conditions were met. In chapter 4:9 we see that this cost him the honor of the battle. We should always be mindful that conditional obedience may forfeit the full benefits that God would like to impart to us.

Reluctance

Gideon was a man called by God, but he was very reluctant to follow him! Gideon always wanted a sign, but his small faith grew as he obeyed. We learned from Gideon that even if we have a reluctant (but not defiant) heart God is able to use us and grow our faith!

Embracing faith

In Judges chapter 7 we see the rest of the story of Gideon. He’s not asking as many questions but embracing faith.
Sometimes it’s not that the circumstances get better but that our God gets bigger. Growing faith allows God to reveal his glory and sufficiency in us around us and through us.

Bold

In chapter 11 we read the story of Jephthah (Jeff). He’d been poorly treated by his people, but when the time came for God to raise him up he was bold and lead the nation. Sometimes today we try to be a part of our culture – but by God’s grace we can boldly follow him instead.

Heart

When we read the story of Samson and how he gives his heart and secrets to a gold digger named Delilah, we are tempted to think he’s gone mad. Yet we should look at Samson as an example of what can happen to us if we don’t guard our hearts. The reality is our destination will be determined by who or what we give our heart to.

Chaos

This story in Judges is probably something we wish wasn’t in the Bible- religion for hire, rampant violent sin and civil unrest. The reality is when we excuse or ignore God, we pave a path of chaos for our lives.

Restored

The story of Israel in the time of Judges is us. We often are on a spin-cycle of sin, disobedience, repentance, and devotion. Just like in the book of Judges our God is ready to rescue us. We might be reluctant or be half-hearted in our disobedience, but we serve a God that wants to come and restore us back to a heart for him. Do you feel cold-hearted toward God? Spiritually restless? Take a cue from the people in Judges and “cry out” and see his power!

God’s people launched an ugly civil war against one of their own tribes to purge the ugliness of the sin among them. Maybe this account is recorded to remind us how to think about the sin in our own life. Are we ready to take on the things we have tolerated and dedicate ourselves to the God who saves us?

Disobedience, Bondage, Repentance, Devotion. All different stages on a spin-cycle of this nation. Beneath the surface of the depravity, chaos, and disappointment of this life is a God ready to rescue us!

“…And the most famous of them all – that long-haired dude named … Samson!”

The story of Samson is like a crazy roller coaster ride. We learn from birth he is set apart under a Nazarite vow. If you read Numbers chapter six, you’ll see this vow was a way to be “set apart” to God for a period of time. The vow involved abstaining from certain things, one of which was shaving your hair. God set Samson apart from before his birth and gave him a supernatural strength to conquer the enemies of his people.

Eventually Samson’s heart becomes wayward. He uses the power of God to escape situations he should have never gotten involved in.  In chapter 16 he visited a foreign prostitute and when they tried to capture him he escapes by the power God gave him. Had Samson become so sure of his strength and power he’d forgotten its source?

Samson’s next bad move was to fall in love with a foreign woman named Delilah. Delilah was the modern day version of a “gold-digger”. She tries to find out the secret to Samson’s strength in order to turn him over to his enemies for big cash. She’s so brash it’s hard to believe Samson finally gives in – but she has his heart.  Samson suffers great pain and eventually pays for his mistakes with his life.

I guess when we look at Samson it’s easy to see his foolishness. A good heart examination would have done Samson a world of good.  The Bible instructs us to examine ourselves and consider our ways (2 Cor 13:5). Have we really  entrusted ourselves to him? Have we given ourselves to things or people that are not worthy of our hearts? If so, isn’t now the moment to change?

Last week we looked at the story of Gideon again and saw how this man of reluctant faith became a faithful instrument of God.  Gideon is going to battle the Midianites and Amalekites and again asks God for a sign.  It’s pretty easy to look down on Gideon and think about all the other people in history who were expected to follow God in faith without a sign! But God knows the heart of each person and how to draw them into becoming a courageous follower.

In chapter seven God gets a chance to test Gideon!  Gideon starts with 32,000 troops for battle and God takes Gideon through steps to narrow the army down to 300 men.  He executes God’s plan and drives out an enormous army.

It’s pretty easy to decide how we’d like to live our lives. It is super easy to ask God for a sign and go our own way while we wait. Our God is big enough to take us from a reluctant faith to embracing faithfulness. Are we ready to join him on that journey?

Click here to view the embedded video.

This week we covered chapter six of Judges and the story of Gideon. Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and let the people be dominated by another nation. Eventually his people cried out again to their God (we’ve seen this cycle haven’t we). The Lord came to Gideon and told him he was the warrior that he would use to free his people . Gideon wasn’t sure, and showed his reluctance with many questions!

• “But sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?
• “But Lord ,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
• “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me”

Gideon was reluctant to believe what God was saying and obey. Eventually he agrees to do the things God asks, and tears down his father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah poles. These were the first steps in God’s plan for him.

In your reluctance …

… do you question the veracity of God?
… do you question God’s discernment and his ability to use you?
… Are you willing to worship God in his awesomeness?
… Are you willing to obey what he has called you to do?

May each one of us be a Gideon and keep trusting – even when we are unsure or reluctant. Get ready for next week by reading Judges chapter 6-7 and witness God’s faithfulness!

What are the "if's" in your Life?

If I had more money, I would be more generous.

If my kids would listen, I wouldn’t get so mad.

If God spoke more clearly, I would follow.

The word “if” is really useful to make excuses isn’t it?

This past Sunday Kevin shared the story of Barak from Judges chapter 4. Barak was called by God to be a part of God’s plan to release his people from captivity. Apparently Barak wasn’t real sure about this plan since God sent a prophetess named Deborah to remind him. As we see in verses 8-9, Barak still wasn’t sure about leading his people.

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”"Very well,” Deborah said, “I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman.”

In the end Barak led his people, but the honor of the battle went to another.

What are the if’s in our lives that prevent God’s glory from being revealed and shared? Are we willing to change the focus of our lives from ourselves to purposes that God has in mind and how is willing to use us in the process?