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Hey, I’m Talking To You!
The other day I was standing in line at the grocery store right behind a couple that was nearly done checking out. All of a sudden the women handed the man one particular product and told him to go back and exchange it for something else. So of course I waited, fuming while this guy went to find something down one of the aisles, as he held up the whole line. Meanwhile, (as I was fuming) I failed to notice a check-out lane open a few aisles down as the cashier called for the next customer. Someone who was not fuming at the people in front me quickly took the spot.
The last several verses of John 21 are a lot like that grocery store check out. God is calling Peter with a specific plan and purpose to his life, but somehow Peter is getting distracted by other things. Verse 21 finds Peter asking about John even as the Lord tries to talk directly to Peter about Peter. Verse 22 finds Jesus issuing a mild rebuke to Peter, and verse 23 highlights that Jesus is basically calling Peter out.
How many of us are thickheaded and worried about what others are doing while God is trying to talk to us? Starting in verse 15 and continuing through the end of chapter 21, Jesus repeats himself several times when talking to Peter (“feed my sheep” and “follow me”). The good news is that God often gives us multiple opportunities to hear what he is trying to tell us, but the bad news is that we often let distractions of our circumstances and other people keep us from hearing what He has to say.
Too true. Thanks, Sam!
I love Peter, with all of his faults. He is passionate when he’s right and when he’s dead wrong.
I remember as a kid I was always so busy making sure I got exactly what my sister got, that I am sure I missed a special blessing that was tailor made for me.
I still need to be reminded, when I’m envious of another’s ministry or spiritual gift, that I am to keep my eyes on the Giver of all good things. I don’t want to miss a thing.
Would it be ironic to say that when I first read the verse I had no idea where you’d go with it? Great job of finding the ‘nugget’ within this verse.
Thanks Sam…I really appreciate your words/reminder of the truth in this passage. What distractions (some obvious “bad” and some seemingly “good”) are keeping me from clearly seeing God plan?