Last week, we say that God's love is immeasurable. I love what Apostle Paul said about God in Romans 11
Romans 11:33
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!
We cannot put God in a box because He is unfathomable! Amen! He is bigger than we can ever imagine. That's why whenever we run into problem, we don't focus on the problem. If we do, we put Him in a box. But how are we going to solve the problem?? The "How" department belong to God, not us. So we don't question how. The Bible say "All things are make for good for those who love Him and called according to His purpose." George Muller put it this way "sovereign goodness"
Some believer acknowledge the sovereignty of God and because of that, they adopt "Que Sera Sera / Whatever will be, will be" attitude. Such mentality does not exalt the glory of God. "Well, if God bless, bless lor... if don't bless, don't bless lor..." Although we do not "play God" in this case, neither are we exalting the name of God.
But what George Muller is saying is that God is in charge of All things (soverign) and yet He is good! And because God is sovereign and at the same time good, we can have hope with positive expectations. We do not view our situation with "Que Sera Sera" attitude. Instead, we proclaim All things work for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Amen! Hallelujah! When a job opportunity door is shut, we know God is opening a even bigger door for us! Amen! You knew my story of looking for a job back then. The door for that job was shut because God opened a bigger and better door for me! Amen! God is sovereign and He is good! Hallelujah!
This week, we will continue to look into the Scriptures in search of knowing God. We will examine the story of Peter and find out what we can derive from the perspective of His love.
When Jesus began His ministry, He was preaching at the sea of Galilee. Let's follow the story from
Luke 5
1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
So, here it says Jesus used Peter's boat as a platform to preach to the multitude. And then, He told Peter to let down his nets for a catch. They had a load sinking, net breaking catch! Peter, not knowing he was set up for a blessing from the Lord, note his response to this blessing. He fell down on his knees and said "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man."
Question: Why did Peter tell Jesus to depart from him? Isn't he happy about his catch? Isn't he happy to see the Lord? What can you derive from this verse?
Do you think Peter is righteous-conscious or sin-conscious? Obviously, sin-conscious. Very much like Adam when he first sinned against God by eating the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam hide himself from God because he was sin-conscious. In other words, Adam was aware of God's holiness. Likewise, Peter was aware of Jesus's holiness.
Ok, let's continue... From then on, Peter became one of Jesus's disciples. For three over years, Peter followed Jesus; saw the healings performed by Jesus; saw Jesus transfigured at Mount of transfiguration; saw the feeding of 5000 with 5 loaves and two fishes; experienced the walk on water; saw Jesus calm the furious storm.
On the night of last supper, Jesus knowing that He would be betrayed said to His disciples that they all will be stumbled on that night. Peter as usual being "loud" about his loyalty to Jesus said he won't be stumbled nor denied Him no matter what happen. And of course, we know Peter denied Jesus three times just as Jesus predicted.
Peter was devastated. He denied Jesus three times. Interestingly, after Jesus resurrected from the death, Jesus had a personal meeting with Simon Peter. That meeting with Peter is reported in Luke 24:34.
33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
We do not have any other details of this meeting, but we strongly believe Jesus restored Peter. Why are we so certain?
Let's go to John 21:3-7.. This was eight days later after Jesus resurrection. Peter and the gang decided to go fishing. Jesus stood at the beach and asked if they caught anything. Not knowing it was Jesus, they answered "No."
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
Notice Peter jumped into the water immediately when John told him it was Jesus. Why? Was Peter running away from Jesus? He probably would since he denied Jesus before He went to the cross, isn't it? But, this is not what it is written. If we continue reading, we know that Jesus prepared breakfast for them and Peter was with them! By the way, notice the Son of God, with all authority and power, prepared breakfast for His disciples! Wow! Jesus was not waiting for them to prepare breakfast for Him.. He didn't say "I suffered so much on the cross, now it's time for you all to serve Me." Far from it.... Can you see the love of our Wonderful Lord Jesus?
So, if Peter did not swim away from Jesus, why is it that Peter jumped into the water? Peter swam towards Jesus then. Why do you think Peter swam towards Jesus? Because he can sense Jesus holiness? No way, he would have run far far away if he still sense Jesus holiness. Remember the first time when he saw Jesus, he said "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man!"
It is not holiness that attract Peter to Jesus. It is His love that drew Peter in, can you see it? Peter was no longer sin-conscious! Love empowered him to be so excited for the Lord that he jumped into the water and swam towards Him. Hallelujah!
God today is a God of love. Jesus went through the suffering on the cross is not to reveal to us God is holy. We don't need Him to do that to prove that He is holy. Peter already knew that when He first met Jesus!
But we know Jesus went to the cross because God love us! Amen! His holy blood was shed to redeem us of all our sins. It is His sacrifice that today our standing with God is righteous. Amen! God is please with the sacrifice and because He is pleased, He cannot judge us anymore as long as we are in Christ! If He judge us, He is saying Christ is not good enough, Christ is not the perfect sacrifice. But, we know Christ did a perfect work at the cross. It is written in the Bible. Amen!
Everyday, when I return home from work. Brielle will run towards me when she knows I am at the door. I don't think it is my holiness or my rigidness that attract her to run towards me... I believe it's my love for her that propel her to run towards me. Amen! And thank God she does not hide herself when I am home or else it would mean she is afraid of me!
Likewise, our Heavenly Father love us and want us to run towards Him, not run away from Him.He does not want us to see His holiness, but He want us to see His love. Amen!
Why would He need to sacrify His only beloved Son to reveal to us His holiness, isn't it? Are we saying holiness is not important anymore? No way. But, when we see and are touched by His love, we will be empowered to be holy effortlessly. The fruit of being touched by His love will produce holiness. Look at Peter after he had been restored.... He was empowered and became a great apostle of Christ, preaching the Gospel, healing the sicks and casting out demons. Hallelujah!
I hope you are blessed by this Truth. Let's not be sin-conscious but be righteous-conscious. Even when we fall at times, let's swim towards Him and be embraced by His unfathomable, immeasurable love for us! Graciousness melts our hearts. Amen! Hallelujah!
Grace, love and peace be with you always!
Shalom,
Bro
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