HARD HEADED PEOPLE
In our series on the life of Christ we come to the passage where Jesus called Peter. We typically think of the passage where Peter and his brother Andrew were by the Sea of Galilee mending their nets and Jesus called them to follow Him. We picture them dropping their nets and following Him immediately. Many of us have heard wonderful messages on the need to follow Jesus immediately. Only problem – did you know that there are 4 different accounts of Jesus’ interaction with Peter?!!
The point is – it took 4 different callings (at least that many are actually recorded in the gospels) before Peter left all and followed Jesus. The message is that God is more gracious than we realize. He works with us and draws us to Himself, even when we keep turning back. We don’t deserve anything but His wrath. God is so compassionate and patient towards us. It’s time to turn to Him and follow Him.
WHEN GOD SEEMS HELPLESS
In Matthew 2 we read the account of Joseph’s dream where he is warned regarding Herod’s intent to kill the baby Jesus. The angel instructs him to take Mary and the baby and flee to Egypt. Have you ever stopped to examine this account carefully? If Jesus is God’s Son,why is He fleeing from a mere mortal? Why didn’t God move Herod’s heart to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah? If not, why didn’t God just kill Herod? Why didn’t the soldiers have a change of heart?
These are some very important questions that have tremendous implications to our daily lives – “Where is God when bad things happen?Where is God when evil people are bent on hurting children, the innocent, and, even, God’s people? Is God too powerless to even carryout His own grand plan in this world?
WHEN IT’S HARD TO WAIT
God’s ways haven’t changed. He wants us to learn to be patient and wait on God’s timing. It’s not easy. In his timing He gives us much more than we expected. Zacharias and Elizabeth were just hoping to have someone carry on the family name. Instead, they received the herald of the Son of God.