Peter

The Rooster’s Crow

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And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept. Mark 14:72 ESV

While my wife and I were staying in a little farm town in Brazil we wondered if their roosters ever sleep! All through the night, the vira lata (stray dogs) and roosters seemed to be holding animal choir practice. Though at the time we thought it was funny, it also made me think of Peter and a Palestinian rooster long ago. Peter had sworn he would be faithful to death for Jesus, but Jesus knew better. He knew that Peter would fail, and loved him anyway. “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me.” Jesus had told him. But Peter couldn’t hear because He had convinced himself that he would follow no matter what. But Jesus knew Peter’s heart and He knows about ours as well.

It’s funny how we think of the roosters crowing when the sun comes up, but he actually stays awake all night watching out over his hens and alerting them, every time he hears a noise. While we were laughing about the animal choir, the rooster was just saying to his little flock, “Time to wake up! There is danger close by!” God is still sending roosters to remind us that we need to pray. The good news is that He will always hear, forgive and restore. Just like Peter, when he began to weep Jesus will turn, but not to condemn. He turns to let us know He is watching and is ready to forgive and restore. Is there a rooster crowing in your life? It’s time to wake up and pray!

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Let Down the Nets

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And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”  Luke 5:5

We all sometimes come face to face with failure no matter how hard we try. When kids were picking teams to play baseball in my neighborhood I was always the last to get picked and usually was made pitcher because I couldn’t hit, run or catch.

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Maybe you are struggling in your marriage is struggling or you are just weeks away from bankruptcy. Like Peter whatever you are facing, remember that Jesus didn’t come to choose the best fishermen, fathers, mothers or business men and women. Jesus came to pick people who have worked all night with nothing to show for their efforts. in fact Jesus is not asking for us to just try harder. He calls us to simply believe and obey His word!  When Peter did what Jesus asked his once empty nets became so full that he needed his friends’ help to pull them in. But Jesus doesn’t stop with simply filling our nets with fish. He has an astonishing adventure in mind far beyond just immediate blessings. If we follow Jesus we will be amazed at where that journey leads; but everything hinges on being willing to let down those nets at His word!

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him Luke 5:11

Let’s Talk

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So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  John 21:15

There is an old gospel song that says, “So let us have a little talk with Jesus” When we think of having this short conversation it mostly comes to our minds what we will say. But there are times when we need to let Jesus talk first! Our verse today is about a conversation that Jesus had been trying to have with Peter for years. In the past sometimes Peter got it, like the time when he said, “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God!” But sometimes Peter didn’t know what to say and yet he talked anyway. (Sound familiar) And sometimes Peter just liked to boast such as when he said;

“…Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” Matthew 26:33

Even though Peter felt that because of his failure his life was over Jesus still loved him and still had a job for him to do. That was good news for Peter as well as for all the rest of us.

If you are reading these words it’s a sure thing that your life isn’t over either and Jesus wants to with you. It doesn’t matter how recently we have messed up or even how many times we have failed. God’s plan depends only on our willingness to listen and then do what He says; “Do you love Him? Then go take care of some of His lambs!”