Jesus’ Swim Team

September 17, 2014

Jesus’ Swim Team

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic, jumped into the water, and swam the one hundred yards to shore.

John 21:7 (Paraphrase)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus appeared to Peter, and others, at least twice the first week after his resurrection. On Sunday evening Jesus came to the room where the disciples were hiding and imparted the Holy Spirit to them. Thomas was not present on that occasion, and Jesus returned a week later to encounter him. On neither occasion is there mention of any dialog between Jesus and Peter.

In John 21, Jesus encountered Peter and the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. On this occasion, there is an intense, deeply personal conversation between Jesus and Peter. However, before the conversation takes place Peter is with the others on the lake fishing. I suspect Peter’s thoughts were consumed with guilt and condemnation as he remembered his conversation in Caiaphas’ courtyard: “The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not” (John 18:17).

I noted on Monday, that God knows the motives of our hearts. Consider the words of the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24). What if you were to take seriously these words, and open yourself to see what God already knows? Would you, like Peter, run to Jesus? Or would you hide in shame. Do you know that the great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, is an affirmation of God’s love for you?

God’s love for you is patient and kind. God’s love for you is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. God’s love for you does not demand its own way. God’s love for you is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. God’s love for you does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. God’s love for you never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. God’s love for you will last forever!

I Corinthians 13:4-7,8b (AMK)

Have you noticed that the number of people who stay away from the church because we are too loving, too forgiving is negligible? The number of people who stay away because we are too unforgiving is incalculable. Maybe today is a good day for you to purpose in your heart to join Peter on Jesus’ swim team.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.