Morning by Morning, August 16 - Following Jesus in the Journey to Be More Like Him
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me where You will -- in my heart and on the path You’ve chosen for me today. ...
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ A second time He said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter felt hurt because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this He said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (John 21:15-19).
Some would say You asked Simon Peter three times if he loved You because he needed to be restored in his heart for the three times he denied You. Some would say it was because Simon Peter needed to be reminded in his heart that he really did love You enough to obey You and follow You wherever You led him to go, whether he wanted to or not. Some would say it was a little of both, or maybe even a lot of both.
It seems to me You were pressing deeper, layer by layer, liking pealing the layers of an onion, to get down to the deeper places of Peter’s hurt so You could get down to the deeper places of Peter’s healing and restoration. You weren’t asking the questions because You didn’t know the answers. Even in his hurt, Peter knew “You know everything.” No, You asked the questions to reveal and to heal, to remove what needed to go and replace it with what he needed -- in that moment and for the journey of the path ahead. And You wanted him to know that both his identity and his destiny, his calling and his purpose, his experiences of past, present, and future were all grounded in his relationship of love with You.
In his healing process, Simon Peter was tempted to compare himself and
his situation with others, like when he then asked You, "What about (John)?" (v.21). But You simply replied, "What is that to you?" (v. 23). In other words, it seems to me You were saying, "I know what you need better than you do. And what you need is different than what someone else needs. Trust Me. Love Me. Follow Me. And if you do, your life and even your death will "glorify God" (v. 19).
Give me that grace, Lord Jesus. Give me the courage and faith to trust You,
to love You, and to follow You -- even to the places I "do not wish to go." But by Your grace, I will go, because I know You go with me and You are for me and want to see me "glorify God" with my life and even my death.
Let the promises of Your Word be formed in me and the presence of Your Spirit live through me: “For (I) have died, and (my) life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
Step by step, layer by layer, deep to deep and heart to heart, on this journey of my path centered in my relationship of love with You, You are making known to me “the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in (me), the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Free me from the temptation of comparing myself and the journey of my path with anybody else. And by Your grace, let me be found faithful to follow You -- in my healing and my calling, in my Blood-sealed identity and
my Spirit-led destiny. Let me know and trust You are with me and You are for me -- in my living and my dying, in my going and my coming, wherever You lead me and call me to follow. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
My friend, may you be grounded in God's Word and filled with God's Spirit, as you follow Jesus on the path of your journey to be more like Him, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Messiah Ministries Mailing Address:
412 S. Adams Street #148
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
Please share this word to encourage a friend!
Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:
