Peter - Lesson 1

Below is what I wrote for lesson 1 on Peter (for my New Testament class). Honestly, I don't think that I have brought anything "new" to the table regarding the apostle, but decided that I would share it anyway. I really do want your feedback. Let's discuss the Word! I want to be challenged and grow in my understanding of the Word. Not only to better understand it, but also to better present it to the people that I come in contact with (believers and unbelievers), especially if I am going to one day teach.

LESSON I

EVERYONE IS CALLED

“Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20)[1]

                The Great Commission was not aimed solely at the eleven disciples closest to Jesus that day. When He gave the command to go He intended for it to include everyone in every era that would continue the same work that had begun in the disciples. Not only would it would have been impossible for those eleven to reach all the nations, they certainly could not have fulfilled it in their lifetimes.[2] No one is excluded from this command. Just like Jesus’ mandate was not limited to the eleven, neither does it limit the calling based on social status, position in life, or personal experience.

                Long before Jesus spoke those words, God called people from different backgrounds to further His kingdom. Take Rahab for instance. Had she let the fact that she was a prostitute keep her from aiding the two spies sent out by Joshua, perhaps the story of Jericho would have had a different ending (Josh. 2). Not only did her faith in hiding the spies gain her favor with Joshua, she obtained a place in the lineage of Jesus as the mother of Boaz who was the grandfather of Jesse, the father of King David (Matt. 1:2-6). Another example would be David. We first see David as a lowly shepherd boy whose family didn’t think highly enough of him to present him to Samuel as a prospect as King of Israel (1 Sam.16:5-13). David did indeed become King of Israel, but not before he struggled with issues such as adultery and murder (2 Sam.). While these issues caused discord in David’s life and among his sons, it didn’t stop him from singing the praises of God in the Psalms or prevent him from being called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

                A Galilean fisherman was no exception. From a village called Bethsaida (John 1:44), Peter was often not only the first to act, but acted before he thought things through; and, certainly spoke whatever was on his mind.[3]

Matthew 4:18-23 and Luke 5:10 indicate that Peter operated a fishing business with his brother Andrew along with partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee, on the Sea of Galilee. Other accounts of these apostles fishing seem to say that they continued this business during their time with Jesus, and are usually used to teach them, Peter, a lesson on faith and dependence on Jesus (Luke 5:1-9; John 21:3-14; Matt. 17:27).   

                Like most people today, Peter was also a family man. He had a wife whose mother was healed by Jesus in Mark 1:29-31. It is thought that he returned home at the end of his different travels, and sometimes his wife accompanied him on missionary journeys (1 Cor. 9:5).[4]

                In Acts 4:13, Peter is perceived to lack education and training. However, this does not mean that he was ignorant, just that he lacked formal education and was not a “professional religious leader”.[5]  At this point in Acts, however, Peter had spent much time with Jesus which certainly could be counted as an educational experience.

Jesus knew Peter. He knew his position in life, his outspoken personality, the career path the he chose, everything about him, God knew. Still He called him. Still He commanded him to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). We are all called by God, and just like with Peter He has a plan for us (Jer. 29:11).  He is calling everyone to His service and commanding us to reach the lost. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations”. Do not let your past, present or perceived future keep you from accepting the call of God or fulfilling His command to go.

---

[1] Unless otherwise noted all Bible quotes are from the NKJV, 1982.

[2] Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset, & Doug Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, (Oak harbor: WA, Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), chp. 28.

[3] G. Osborne and J. Douglas & P.W. Comfort (Eds.), Who’s Who in Christian History, (Wheaton, Il: Tyndale House, 1992), 551.

[4] G. Osborne, 549.

[5] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (Wheaton, Il: Victor Books, 1996), 1 Pe 1:1.

Count it all Joy.....Really?

James 1:1-4 "My brethren (and sister :)), count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be compete, and lacking nothing."

I am going to tell you right now that I will not ever tell you to pray for patience. Nope, I learned early on that if those words come out of my mouth, I will surely be tested. And, if any of you are like me, the last thing you want to hear when you are under the bus and it is backing up to make sure no part of you was left unscathed is to count it all joy. I am having a hard time finding any joy in my experiences right now. Please allow me to whine a little bit. I promise I will get to the point soon.

I have Mono. There is nothing the doctors can give me to make it better and they do not have an estimated time that it will take to run its course. For months I have been drained, exhausted, and in a lot of pain. I chalked it up to everything my family has been though the past few months and just the normal everyday things that sometimes "catch up" to you. That is not the case and the only remedy that the doctors can give me is rest. Can someone please tell me how a single mom with two soccer boys, a busy career and church obligations can rest? Not a word that has been in my vocabulary nor one that no matter what I try to cut out seems to appear.

When I got divorced two years ago I was left with a great deal of debt. I did not file bankruptcy because it was debt that I helped to create and I did not feel that it was honoring to God for me to take the easy road out. There was one debt that Dan was supposed to take care of that other than signing for the line of credit, I had nothing to do with. Of course, he did not. This has resulted in a lawsuit of around $45,000. I talked to a couple of attorneys and both said that there was nothing I could do to keep from being sued because I signed the initial paperwork saying I would be held responsible. Their advice, file bankruptcy. Again, this is not an option for me. Even though this debt is not "mine", by filing bankruptcy I will undo all of the good that I have accomplished the last couple of years and be back at square one. My solution, I called the company and talked to them about a settlement. They agreed to take a much lower settlement, let me make monthly payments to them, and to release me from the lawsuit. Thank you Jesus! We will definitely be cutting back, and eating out will more than likely be a thing of the past for now. Put the fact that Dan does not pay child support that he is supposed to and it almost pushes me over the edge. It never ends with him, but I will spare you all of that garbage.

I got home today and there was no hot water. The hot water heater was leaking again under the house and of course they can't fix it until tomorrow. Very thankful that I have cold water, and that I do not have to pay for this repair because I am a renter.

And, the list could go on, but who wants to hear all of that negativity?! I don't even want to hear it myself. That's why I went back to James 1 today (thank you Beth Moore for pounding that in my head and Joy for sharing that study with me).

Trials are not fun. Trials are not easy. We (I) wonder why everything seems to happen at once, and why sometimes it seems I cannot get a break. But this I know for sure, God has a plan. These situations that I am in are not news to Him. While I can't see any area of deliberate sin that may be causing these things in my life, I do believe there is a lesson. Something for me to learn about handling difficulties, perhaps being an example to someone, or something deep inside of me that might need to be called out so that God can move me into the deeper places with Him. To prepare me for what His calling is. These things are producing patience (even though I didn't ask for it) that will make me complete and lacking nothing. Everything that I have and am is in Christ (Acts 17:28). I don't know that I have mastered the command of counting it all joy, but I do hope that (after I get through whining here) I can walk through these things and come out with a stronger faith. A deeper belief in the God who is my Redeemer who lives (Job 19:25), my Provider (Philippians 4:19), and above all my Savior who has overcome the world and any trouble it might throw at me (John 16:33)

Be Amazed

Psalm 40:5
"Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare" (NIV)

I must confess that I have a a bit of writers block lately when it comes to blogging. I feel like I always write about the same things, plus, my NT class took up a lot of time. I'm still debating as to whether I am going to post my thoughts on Peter. I'm waiting to see my professor's input. If he says, "it stinks", then I'll spare you all the torture ;p.

Today, however, I am going to share.

A few months ago, I distinctly heard the Lord speak to my spirit and say "be amazed by Me".

At first I thought He meant those words to indicate the way He will send my "Prince Charming" because that was what I had been praying about in that moment. But, as I have thought about those words I realize that the Lord not only means for me to be amazed by the way He will answer that specific prayer, but also to be amazed by the things that He does for me everyday.

To give testimony to this, here are two things that happened yesterday that reminded me to "be amazed" by Him.

Zach has cavities. To be exact, four that needed filling and another that needs a root canal. The first two fillings cost me $230 after insurance. Yesterday he had an appointment to do one of the other cavities. It was supposed to cost $110 (after insurance). When I got to the dentist I was sure to tell everyone that I came in contact with that we were only filling one cavity. The dentist came in and started working on Zach. After a while the dentist's assistant looked up and said "he went ahead and filled both cavities". I went into a panic because I was not prepared to anti-up another $230 yesterday, but before I could express my panic the assistant clarified and said he wasn't charging me for the second one. He said it was just easier to go ahead and do them both rather than have Zach come back and go through all that again.

We headed to check out and the dentist was there telling the receptionist how to code our bill, and the receptionist looked at me and said, "today is $45". I asked her if she was sure, and she said positive. Not only did I not have to pay for one of the fillings, the one I thought was going to be $110 was only $45. WOW!

Round two of amazement: Joseph had an unexpected doctor's appointment yesterday. Now, it was on a less grander scale cost wise, but still would have been a $30 co-pay. After seeing the doctor we went to check with the receptionist about making an appointment for Joseph's referral to a specialist. With everything else going on, I never thought about, and the receptionist didn't ask me for the co-pay before I left. After I got home I called them back but they were already closed. I left them a message. When Brook called me back this morning she said that I had a credit on my account and that is why they didn't ask me for payment. I had no idea!

Now $30 isn't a great deal of money, but God doesn't just speak to us in grandeur. More times than not, He speaks to us in the small things, but we fail to see it because it isn't flashing in neon lights or a brilliant display of something He has done.Or, it isn't an answer to one of our more prominent prayers.

Still no "prince charming" or answers to the other things that weigh on my mind and in my heart, but the Lord did answer a prayer that I often mutter in haste, one that is routine and often taken for granted..."Lord take care of me and my boys. Make provision for us and supply all our needs". I needed that reminder of how He does answer my prayers everyday, and that I should be amazed by how faithful my God is to me.

Be amazed by the Lord today, especially in the small things. You don't have to look very hard.