This image was taken at an airport so I thought it was pretty fitting for the idea of dropping your baggage. This moment was both me figuratively and literally dropping my baggage in the middle of an airport to spend time with God after a season of service and struggle.
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:17
Three times in a row Jesus asks Peter this question when He reappears after His death, to which Peter answers yes. At first the redundancy seems strange, but it is actually something so significant.
Right before Jesus is taken to be crucified, He tells Peter this:
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Luke 22:31-34
And what He said came true, Peter denies his connection to Christ 3 times in a row while Jesus is about to be crucified for our sins. This is the importance of John 21, Jesus gave Peter the opportunity to right the wrong by vowing his love for Christ 3 times as he had denied him 3 times. By this interaction, Jesus wiped away and rewrote Peter’s story. Peter than proceeds to become one of the loudest voices of the Christian faith and leader (“rock”) of the Church.
This led me to question a few things. What sins have I committed that God wants to rewrite in my life? What have I said or done that I need to repent from in order to move forward and closer to God. Yesterday, I wrote a devotion on purpose and calling, but I also read this at the same time. I believe there is a connection between the two, and it’s this: God has a plan and purpose for us that He is pushing us towards, but we have to let Him rewrite some things of our past before we can meet our calling. Pray today about what that looks like so that together as a people we can live fuller lives in Christ. He does not want us to hold the baggage, but instead lay it at His feet.
3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.
Jeremiah 18: 3-6
When reading these verses, imagining God as the potter and yourself as the clay, ask yourself, “What control do we have over what we become?”. Now this isn’t necessarily a free will versus predestination argument, just thoughts to ponder over the way we were created as individuals and our purpose on Earth. Going back to the beginning we see this:
7 Then the Lord God formed a man[c] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
Genesis 2: 7,15
From the beginning, God formed man from dust, breathed life into man, placed man, and gave man purpose. Now for many of us, myself included, pride begins to speak in our heads. It is hard for us to accept that we have no control over how we were made or what we were designed for. Our society tells us what we become is based on how hard we work towards something. You can achieve anything if you put you mind to it. However, are we really able to achieve something outside of God’s plan for us? Or instead we should actually ask, do we really want to reach for something outside of God’s plan for us? These passages I think help us to understand these ideas more:
20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[h]21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
Romans 9: 20-21
3…you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. 4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 8 “Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’
Isaiah 46: 3-4, 8-10
These words should be some of the most reassuring things we hear today, at least for me it is. The pressure of the world to work hard and become something great slowly is removed because I realize that I am what God created me to be. I am working towards God’s plan for me. I can’t change what He is calling me to do, therefore I happily go along for the ride that He has put me on because I realize I will not accomplish anything on my own strength.
It seems to me the times I am begging God to show me direction in my life or bring me to a better place, it never happens from my own plans. The things I have found the most fulfillment in and sense of belonging and rightness are things that happen so randomly I find myself shocked. There will be this little nudge of get more information on this or apply for that, and it seems like I’m so quickly moved forward I have no choice but to just go along (in a good way). The things however that I have wanted or tried to reach for take so much effort to try and happen, and there is no sense of rightness to it.
I want to end with these verses as motivation and encouragement to be a part of something greater than yourself:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-10
14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4: 14
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And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33:14
As I sit waiting to pick up medicine for my mom, I find myself encountering God in an unconventional place. I feel His presence settle over me while sitting in my car listening to worship music. Never doubt the presence of God is with you, no matter where you are. Fix your gaze on Christ at all times and He will show Himself. It was true in Exodus, and it is true today through the Holy Spirit.
5 “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Jeremiah 17: 5-10
In a time of worry and anxiety for myself personally, I found this passage to be so impactful. I asked myself, “Where am I planted?” and found that I straddle the line of both desert and stream. When my life is easy and has direction, I’m all for trusting in the Lord. However, when it seems like God is failing at keeping His promise to me, I start to try and figure out what I can do to move forward.
I love how it says the tree planted by the stream never fails to bear fruit, even in a year of drought. When we are diving into the Word and spending time in prayer, we will not fail to bear fruit. In a time of difficulty and pain, we will not fail to bear fruit. When we are confused and lost, we will not fail to bear fruit. In the time of waiting, we will not fail to bear fruit.
The last part of the passage is the beginning of a new section but still relevant to me while I was reading it because I thought of these two proverbs:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a]
Proverbs 3: 5-6
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
The heart and what you let in impacts so much of what comes out of you. Submit your heart to God, and He will keep it protected! How? You got to love the bible and it’s connectedness:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
9 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:9-10
2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
Ruth 2:2-3
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:36-37
I was amazed by the generosity that is displayed in the bible. For it to be common in society to leave grain available for those in need. I questioned to myself, “What does it look like to love one’s neighbor in today’s society?”. Not just in acts of kindness but in a way that your everyday actions allow others to find rest.
1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
Psalm 131
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Matthew 18:1-5
I took this image awhile back, but I still think about it today when I think of the perfect image of child-like innocence. Now this image was taken as I was visiting “the wrong side of town” in an already perceived sketchy area. I thought to myself, I have never seen this in my white middle class neighborhoods, such joy and openness. Why do I feel like our ability to enjoy community decreases as people accumulate wealth and status? Jesus even says, it’s easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy man to enter heaven. (my little tangent, sorry)
Children do not have (or I should say, should not have) a sense of money, social standing, racial bias, or anything else that makes one struggle or feel greater than others. There’s is such an innocent love, a love that is unconditional.
They do not have worries of tomorrow or fears and doubts that cannot be calmed by a loving parent. Their trust in their father or mother is so great.
Jesus tells us we cannot enter heaven until we become like a child. Casting our worries of tomorrow on Him, and believing He will take care of them. Loving Him and others unconditionally. Humbling ourselves by kneeling at our Father’s feet.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises[a] of Israel… 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet[b]— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a]; he puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. 11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
Psalm 33: 6-11
Through everything that rages on, one thing remains true: the Lord reigns sovereign. Everything was created by God, and everything was created for God. As a way to worship Him, glorify Him, and to do His will. The plans of humans will fail, but the Lord will presses on.
Today we celebrate the death of our Savior, for His death bought our salvation. And this day of death, we call Good Friday in remembrance of what Christ did for us. As I hear about what happened to Him, see pictures of Him on the cross, and watch videos of the crucifixion there is nothing good about how I feel, but sadness overwhelms me. The goodness comes from the fulfillment of prophecies and the furthering of God’s kingdom.
As I was pondering this, I felt a connection to our lives today and the lives of people throughout the bible. The connection was this: there was always pain and sorrow before the fulfillment of a calling.
Before Ruth could marry and birth the line of David (and Jesus), she had to experience the death of her first husband and leave the place she called home. Before David could become King and fulfill what Samuel said, he had to endure the jealousy of Saul, being on the run, and the pain that came with the death of Saul and Jonathan. For Job blessings to be doubled and the Lord glorified, he had to go through the pain of losing everything.
The things we go through today, the pain we may be enduring, all occur according to God’s will. We may not know the bigger picture; but we can be assured, if there is pain today, there’s a brighter tomorrow awaiting (even if that be in heaven). God is pushing us and growing us so that we are prepared for the calling on our life.
We are here for one purpose: to glorify and share our Father. If we aren’t on the path to do that, but we pray to God to be used, then we can expect there to be pain, sadness, and change in order to reroute us. This is necessary in order to fulfill God’s calling on our life. Paul explains the dichotomy of our life well in this passage:
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Dash of Sunshine 