Life Lessons from the Beach

This post is a sermon I preached at MRWC on August 19

 

 

            We are in week four of our sermon series called: “Life Lessons from the beach”

            There is no better place to be on a beautiful summer day than at the beach with several of your closest friends, and this series focuses on selected events from the Bible that took place on or near the water and we're finding the major life lesson from these accounts.

            So far in our series, we’ve looked at Luke chapter 5, and learned that: “Obedience is better” and “we all need Jesus”.

            We looked at John 21 and learned that “Anyone can be forgiven of anything”;

            And last week we looked at Joshua chapter 3 and we believe that “If God asks you to do something; He will help you do it.”

            This morning, we are turning our attention to the book of 2^nd Kings.

            The book of 1^st and 2^nd Kings are a history of the events of the life of the Nation of Israel and Judah, from the later days of King David until the capture of Jerusalem.

      The time frame for these two books is from 971-562 BC.

            If you have your bibles with you, I invite you to follow along as I read from 2 Kings 5:

“The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories.

But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.

            2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.

3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

            4 So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said.

5 “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.”

So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.

6 The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”

            7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “This man sends me a leper to heal!

       Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”

            8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him:

        “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.”

            9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house.

10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!

12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

            13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it?

       So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”

14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him.

And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!” (2 Kings 5:1-14, NLT2)

            Once again the Jordan River plays a significant part in our story, only this time it’s in the life of a man by the name Naaman.

            The Bible tells us that Naaman was the commander of the Army of the King of a country known as Aram—AKA Syria.

            The Lord had given Ben- Hadad, the King Aram great victories because of Naaman, and Naaman was a mighty warrior, but there was a problem.

       He “…suffered from leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:1, NLT2)

        A bible dictionary tells is that:“Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease characterized by sores, scabs and white shining spots beneath the skin.” (NNIBD, 760)

Leprosy can be cured today through the wonder of modern medicine, but in Naaman’s day, the only known cure was to receive a miracle.

According to the Law of Moses, a person with Leprosy had to be isolated from society, they had to wear mourning clothes; have un-kept hair, and had to yell: “Unclean! Unclean”, so no one would come into contact with them…

But apparently, this wasn’t the procedure for Naaman, as he was free to roam as he wanted, and even served as the commander of the King's army.

On one of their frequent raids of Israel, soldiers from Aram brought back a slave girl from Israel and she was given to Naaman’s wife as a maid.

“One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3, NLT2)

Naaman decides that this is a good idea, and he approaches the King of Aram, asks if he can go visit with the Prophet. 

The king agrees, and Naaman is off to meet with the King of Israel.

Before Naaman leaves, the King of Aram gives Naaman a letter of introduction that was to be given to the King of Israel.

“The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:6, NLT2)

When the king of Israel received this letter, he’s outraged, and he suspects that his counterpart is trying to pick a fight with him, and he responds by tearing his clothes,

When Elisha received word of the king’s not-so-fine-moment, Elisha convinces the king to send Naaman to his house, to prove to Naaman that there was a prophet in Israel.

Naaman and his posse traveled to Elisha’s house, but Elisha does not come out to greet them, but sends his servant to give Naaman a simple request:

“Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:10b, NLT2)

Why would Elisha refuse to speak to Naaman, especially after he persuaded the King to let Naaman come to his home?

I suspect it was to demonstrate to Naaman that it is God, not humans, who heal.

When Naaman received the simple command to go jump in the Jordan River 7 times, he became upset and declared: 

“I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!....I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!” (2 Kings 5:11, NLT2)

Naaman did what we sometimes do; he put God in a box.

Naaman thought that Elisha would come out of his house, wave his hands, shout to the Lord, and the spot would be cured, but contrary to popular belief, God doesn’t always do what we think He should do.

God, through the Prophet Isaiah said: “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts…. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” (Is. 55:8 NLT2)

Naaman tried to limit God, but God will not be limited by time and space as we are limited by time and space, and upon hearing the news that he was to wash in the Jordan River 7 times, Naaman begins to walk away.

Have you ever done that? Has someone ever said something to you, only to get you so fired up that you end up walking away in disgust?

Naaman felt that way, he thought—expected— that God would work in one specific way, but was told to do something completely different.

This is why we need Godly people in our lives. We need them to speak into our lives to prevent us from doing something that we are sure to regret.

As Naaman was walking away from a command from the man of God, his officials came to him and said:

“Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!” (2 Kings 5:13, NLT2)

Sometimes we have faith for the big things that God asks us to do, but we need faith to do the small things that God asks us to do.

Had Naaman not listened to his officials he would have missed a chance to be cured of this disease, which was the very reason he travelled to Israel.

The Bible tells us that: “…Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child’s, and he was healed!” (2 Kings 5:14, NLT2)

Naaman obeyed what Elisha asked him to do, and as such, he was cured of leprosy.

So, the Life Lesson from the Beach today is this: “Be faithful in the little things.”

Naaman expected a big miracle, instead of small one—His remarks in verse 12 lead us to believe this to be true:

“Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, -- Where I’m from--- the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” (2 Kings 5:12a, NLT2)

It was almost as if he was certain a big miracle was coming, and he almost missed the “small miracle” that God wanted to bring.

Friends, there is no doubt that God wants us to be faithful in the “big things” of life; but God is also asking us to be faithful in the small things of life.

It was in doing something that seemed small and pointless to Naaman that led to his healing, God wanted Naaman to be faithful in the little things.

I believe that this Life Lesson from the Beach is just as true today as it was in Naaman’s day.

Jesus said in Luke 16: “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (16:10, NLT2)

Jesus is speaking to the integrity of our hearts—if we do the little things well, we will do the bigger things better; but if we have trouble doing the little things, we will have trouble doing the bigger things.

God wants us to be faithful in the “big things” of life; but He’s equally as concerned that we are being faithful with and in the little things of life.

So, how are you doing in life’s little things?

è Are you reading your Bible on a regular basis?

è Are you spending time with your family?

è Do you love your spouse?

è Are you a man or woman of your word?

 Being faithful in the little things—as Naaman was--- will lead to bigger things, but not being faithful in little things, will lead to corruption in bigger things

This Life Lesson from the Beach reminds us to be faithful in the little things.

ILLUSTRATION- I remember a time early on in my ministry where I was growing tired of doing the little things.

            I was giving my work my all, I was doing everything I knew to do, but I wasn’t seeing the results that I thought I should be seeing.

            Instead of getting mad, I prayed that God would help me serve Him right where I was; I wanted to be faithful with the things that God had entrusted to me.

            During that time, the words of Galatians 6:9 became my friend.

            What does Gal. 6:9 say? “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV)

            If you are growing weary in doing the little things, take heart: God sees you and He will reward your faithfulness when the time is right.

I want to encourage you to remain faithful in doing the “little things” that God has asked you to do.

            If you are having trouble remaining faithful—in big things, or in little things—the Life Lesson from the beach from a few weeks ago is the message that you need to hear once again: “Anyone can be forgiven of anything.” (See John 21:15-17)

            If you are having trouble in the little things of life, I want you to know that you can hit the “reset button” and begin once more, but you can only do that because: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103:8, NIV)

            The Bible tells us that after Naaman was healed, he went back to Elisha and proclaimed his allegiance to God.  (2 Kings 5:15a, NLT2)

            Because Naaman was faithful in the little things, he came face to face with the God of the universe.

            If we remain faithful in the things that God has entrusted to our care, we, too, shall know His awesome power.

            As we prepare to transition into a time of corporate worship and prayer, if God has been speaking to you about your need to be faithful in life’s little things, may you find the same grace that Naaman did, and may you make a commitment to do the little things, no matter how foolish they might seem. 

 

Life Lessons from the beach

Life Lessons from the Beach, part 3

Joshua 3

Sunday, August 12^th, 2012- MRWC

            We are in week three of our current series called: “Life Lessons from the beach”

            We are looking at some of the accounts in the Bible that took place on or near bodies of water and finding the major life lesson that comes out of these scripture passages.

            The past two Sundays, we’ve spent time looking at 2 life lessons from the New Testament- Luke 5 and John 21—and this week and next week, we will be looking at 2 life lessons from the Old Testament, with Pastor Mike bringing an end to this series at the end of the month by jumping back into the New Testament once again.

            This morning’s Life Lesson from the beach comes to us from the book of Joshua.  

            The children of Israel had endured a 40-year wilderness “experience”, but now they were on the verge of possessing the very Land God had sworn to give them years ago, but one thing stood in their way: The Jordan River.

            Joshua had sent two spies to scope out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, and when the spies came back, they reported that the Land was ready for their arrival.

            After the report from the spies, Joshua accompanied the Israelites to the banks of the Jordan River, where they enjoyed a 3 day camp out.   

            “Three days later the Israelite officers went through the camp, 3 giving these instructions to the people: “When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them.

4 Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.” (Joshua 3:2-4, NLT2)

Joshua’s officials commanded the people to be on the lookout for the Ark of the Covenant, for when it moved, they were to follow, but only from a safe distance.

Now, before we go any farther, I want to explain something that you might already be aware of… the Ark of the Covenant symbolized God’s presence among His people.

The Ark of the Covenant was the most important object to the people during their wilderness wanderings because it signified that God was with them.

The ark contained two tablets (iPad’s) which the 10 Commandments were written on, as well as a gold pot of manna and Aaron’s staff.

On top of the ark was a gold cover known as the mercy seat—we sang about Heaven's mercy seat a few moments ago—it’s known as the mercy seat because the blood of a sacrificed animal was applied to it once a year signifying God’s mercy in forgiving sin.

The Cherubim--or angelic statues-- stood at opposite ends of the mercy seat, with their faces bowed toward the mercy seat. (Adapted from NNIBD)

The Ark of the Covenant was very important to the people of Israel. Everywhere they went, the ark went with them, until it was firmly established in the Temple built by Solomon.

Having the ark go before the people, symbolized that God Himself would be going in front of them.

After Joshua told the people that the Ark of the Covenant would go before them, he gave them an important command: “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5, NLT2)

The people were to wash themselves and abstain from certain things that would defile them, before they could see the Great Hand of the Lord at work.

This is true in our day as well. We can’t play around with sin and at the same time expect God to bless us, or move in on us in awesome ways.

The call to follow God is a call to be different; it’s a call to be set apart.

If you are not experiencing God working in your life, could it be because you are still paying with sin?

Remember if you play with fire you will get burned, so take this command from Joshua and purify yourself, and then watch God move in your life.

Well, after a night of consecration to the Lord, Joshua told the priests to: “Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river.” (Joshua 3:6, NLT2)

Notice that Joshua didn’t tell the priests to build a bridge in order for the people to cross the river... he simply told them lift up the ark and lead the people.

Most of the time, God will not divulge His entire plan for your life all at once. God will simply show you the first step, and then He`ll want you to take that step, before He gives you another step.

The priests were then instructed to take a few steps into the Jordan River and stop moving; they were to stand in the river holding on to the Ark of the Covenant.

We will pick up the reading in verse 9: “So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says.

10 Today you will know that the living God is among you. He will surely drive out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ahead of you.

11 Look, the Ark of the Covenant, which belongs to the Lord of the whole earth, will lead you across the Jordan River!

Jumping down to 13 ``The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.”

 14 So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them.

15 It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge,

16 the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry.

Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.

 17 Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.” (Joshua 3:9-11, 13-17, NLT2)

There are many interesting details that we could talk about from this text, but there is one verse that will serve as our life lesson this morning.

It’s a small detail, one that may have been overlooked, but each time I read from this account the words leap off the page of the Bible.

The verse in question is verse 15: “Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest.” (Josh. 3:15a, NIV)

This is an important detail. If you remember back to verse 5, Joshua told the people to purify themselves because “…the Lord will do great wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5, NLT2)

The Great wonders that The Lord did for the people was not only lead them thru the Jordan river on dry ground, but He led them though the Jordan River when it would have been at or near its peak, making the trek next to impossible.

Unless God intervened in the lives of his people that day, they would have not been able to cross the Jordan River to begin taking hold of the Land that the Lord had promised them.

So, here is today’s life lesson from the beach…. You might want to write it down, for I think you’ll need it this week: “If God asks you to do something—anything at all—He will help you do it.”

God only allowed the people of Israel to cross the Jordan River once the priests had stepped out into the water. Had the priests not obeyed, the people would not have crossed the river.

If God asks you to do something, He will help you do it.

Verse 16 is also interesting. It tells us that “the water above that point—the place where the priests were standing, and where Israel had crossed-- “the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam…” (Josh. 3:16, NLT)

This verse is telling us that God stopped the water 20 miles away from where the people were standing!

Picture from here to Burtt's corner!!

God Stopped the water from a long way back, just as soon as the priests stepped foot in the water.

God provided for His people that day, just as, hundreds of years later, the God-Man (Jesus) provided for His disciples on the same body of water in Luke 5 and John 21, for the Jordan River flows right into the Sea of Galilee.

Church: this passage teaches us an important life lesson: “If God asks you to do something, He will help you do it.”

If God asks you to give something up, He will provide for you.

If God asks you to go someplace, He will provide for you.

If God asks you to do something, He will help you do it.

ILLUSTRATION- AS many of you may know, I write my Sunday morning messages on Thursdays. I lock myself in my office and write all day.

            This past Thursday was no exception, only this past Thursday was a little harder than usual.

            On Wednesday, Beth dropped off the kids at her mother’s house for a few days of “cousin camp”, and later on that evening, we had Pastor Mike and Kate over for dinner and a movie.

            After they left, we were getting ready for bed, and the phone rang.

        Now, the phone generally doesn’t right at 9:50 at night, so something is wrong, and low and behold, it was Erica, our youngest, telling her mother that she wanted to come home.

            Beth tried to convince her to stop crying and find a book or something else to divert her attention, and she hung up and came back to bed.

            Not very long after that, Beth’s mother called back and told us that Erica AND Emma were crying, and saying they wanted to come home.

            Beth hung up the phone and we decided that she needed to go to her Mother’s house and help our kids fall asleep.

            After she left, I turned on the ball game, and prepared for a good night’s sleep.

        After all, there were no kids to wake me up, no wife to take the covers off my giant bed.

            Do you think I could go to sleep?  No way.

            For the next 4 hours, I drifted in and out of consciousness, waking-up every 15 minutes at the sound of EVERY creak and crack and noise.

I even got up to make sure the doors were locked and the windows were closed so no one would climb in.

            I finally fell asleep well after 1 AM, and slept until a little after 7. I got up and went for a walk, wondering how I could make it through the day being exhausted.

Then I began to think about my sermon... how could I write a word from God on so few hours of sleep?

Almost immediately a scripture verse entered my mind. It was almost as if God was telling me: “…'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.” (Zech. 4:6, NIV)

Friends: I’m wondering what might God be asking you to do?

What might God be asking you to give up?

Where might God be asking you to go?

If you are thinking of how you will accomplish the particular task on your own, you are missing an amazing opportunity to have the Lord of all the earth provide for you in a way that only He can do.

The people of Israel crossed the Jordan River at flood stage because God went before them.

I was able to write a message because God went before me, and you will be able to do whatever it is God is asking you to do, because He goes before you and He will work out all the details.

This life lesson from the beach reminds us that If God is asking you to do something; He will help you do it.

So, is there something that God has been asking you to do? If there is, will you do it?

Is there somewhere God is asking you to go? If so, will you go?

Is there something God is asking you to give up? If so, will you give it up?

If God is asking you to do something He will help you do it, but it’s up to you to take that first step get in the water.

Sometimes things seem impossible to us, we don’t know how things will turn out but it’s in those times that we need to trust God all the more, because it’s not by my strength, nor is it by your power, but by God’s Spirit.

(Invitation)

Friends, if the Lord has been tugging at your heart this morning, chances are He's asking you to take that first step. 

If God is asking you to do something, He will help you do it, but we must take the first step and get into the water.

So, if you want God to begin to work in your life I'm going to ask you to stand up and step out from where you are, and come to the front of the church

By doing so, you are telling the Lord that you need His help.

I want you to know dear friend, that if you take a step of obedience and step into the water and do what God is asking you to do, He will show you the next step, and the next step and even the step after that, but first you have to get into the water…

So, If you want help from God to cross a river in your life I invite you to step out from where you are and come stand with me in the water...

i heard this week that God hits a moving target. What that means is if we step into the water, He will give us the help we need.

Don't miss having God move a river in your life this week, take that step and get into the water.

Life Lesson #2

Hello! This post is message two in our Life Lessons from the beach series. I hope you enjoy, and remember: Anyone can be forgiven of anything!

            We are in week two of a brand new sermon series called: “Life Lessons from the beach”.

            As you read the Scriptures, you’ll come across some amazing life lessons, and some of these life lessons actually took place on, or near bodies of water, so this series focuses on some of these accounts and we are looking for the key truth from these stories.

            Last Sunday we examined Luke chapter 5, and asked—and hopefully—answered this important question: “What are you trying to do without Jesus?”     

        We also said that the Life lesson from Luke chapter 5 is that obedience is better and we all need Jesus.

            This morning’s life lesson involves many of the same elements as found in Luke chapter 5, but the context and life lesson is altogether different, so if you have your Bibles with you, I invite you to turn with me to John 21:1-18.

            “Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened.

2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

            4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was.

5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!”

So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.

8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore.

9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said.

11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said.

None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish.

14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.

            15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

            17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

         Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time.

         He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” (John 21:1-17, NLT2)

There is so much truth from this passage, so I want to give you the life lesson right up front. If you get nothing else from church today, get this:

“Anyone can be forgiven from anything”

Lord, bring to life this passage…

A lot has transpired since Luke Chapter 5. Jesus had been crucified, buried, and had risen again from the grave, and was making His way back to the Father, but before He ascended into heaven, there was something that He had to attend to…

What does Jesus find His disciples doing when He shows up on the shore of the Sea of Galilee? The only thing they knew how to do…fish.

It’s almost as if Peter and Company had hit the reset button on thier lives, because they are back fishing on the Sea of Galilee.

The Bible tells us that Peter and Company had the same results fishing at night as they did in Luke chapter 5.

As they are making their way back to the shore, a Voice calls to the weary fisherman: “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied” (John 21:5, NLT2)

They had fished all night and hadn’t caught anything, so the Voice from the shore tells them to: “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!”” (Jn. 21:6a, NLT2)

They ponder this command for a second, and then they cast their nets over the right side of the boat, and, what do you know, “…they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.” (Jn.21:6b, NLT2)

John immediately has an “a-ha!” moment. His mind flashed back to that other fishless night and he remembered Who had led them to another large catch, and immediately shouts out: “…It is the Lord!” (Jn.21:7b, NIV)

At this, Peter jumps out of the boat and heads right for the shore where he meets up with Jesus, while the others bring in the boat—and fish.

When they arrive on shore, they are greeted with an invitation from Jesus to sit and eat some of the 153 large fish that they had just caught.

After breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter and asked him and unusual question: “Simon son of John, do you love (agapaō) me more than these?” (Jn.21:15a, NLT2)

Jesus was wondering if Peter loved Him more than the other disciples that were gathered around the camp-fire.

But He was also asking if Peter loved Him with a divine love.

Peter responded by saying: “Yes, Lord…you know I love (philēo) you.” (Jn.21:15b, NLT2)

Peter said that his love for Jesus did not compare to that of the others, for he loved Jesus as one would love a dear friend.

Not quite what Jesus had asked.

A second time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him with a divine Love, and again Peter responded by telling Jesus that He loved Him as one would love a close friend.

Jesus asked Peter a third time if he loved Him, only this time, Jesus used the same word for Love that Peter used in his responses.

Jesus asked if Peter loved Him as one loves a dear friend, and Peter responded by stating that he did love Jesus in that way. Peter loved Jesus with a deep personal love.

Why the focus on this particular exchange? To remind us that “Anyone can be forgiven of anything!”

Remember, it was Peter who said: “…Even if everyone else deserts you, (Jesus) I never will.” (Mark 14:29, NLT2)

Peter made the bold claim that he would remain by the side of Jesus even if no one else would.

Peter then went on to say—after hearing Jesus tell him that he would deny Jesus three times-- “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” (Mark 14:31b, NLT2)

Peter claimed that he would not deny Jesus, but that very night Peter did in fact deny Jesus, not once, not twice, but three times.

Three times Peter denied that he knew Jesus. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.

It is very possible that Jesus used this public encounter over breakfast with Peter’s closest friends to remind Peter that, while his sin was great, the grace of God was greater still.

Jesus used this moment to teach Peter—and the other disciples gathered around—that anyone can be forgiven of anything, even if that anything is denying that you know Jesus.

I wonder today how many of us need to let this simple life lesson from the beach sink deep into our hearts.

Ø How many of us are dealing with the pain of our poor choices?

Ø How many of us are dealing with the pain of someone else’s poor choices?

Ø How many of us can’t seem to let the past remain in the past?

Ø How many of us are dealing with emotional, physical, mental, or even spiritual baggage that we have no business carrying around?

Peter thought that his life of serving Jesus was over.

The last words Jesus had heard come from his mouth declared that Peter did not know Jesus, but now, on this very shore,  Jesus provided for Peter, but this time, Jesus gave Peter what He needed most: redemption.

ILLUSTRATION- The single largest publication of the 1960’s was a catalogue provided by a company called Sperry & Hutchinson, AKA S&H.

            This company also provided “green stamps”.

            At their height, S&H printed three times more stamps than the United States government. They published enough catalogues to more than circle the earth.

            If you saved enough of their stamps you could get…a toaster. Or another appliance.

       One school in Pennsylvania saved 54 million stamps and bought two gorillas for a local zoo.   

            Once you had collected these stamps from supermarkets, department stores, or even gas stations, you would take them to a place called a redemption center to be exchanged. Redeemed.

            “With endless patience, at infinite cost to Himself, God had been waiting since the beginning of history—watching, suffering, loving--until, in the fullness of time he sent his only begotten Son to a redemption center on a hill called Calvary.”

“What does he want to redeem…God wants to redeem you.”

            You see, “God is still in the business of redemption, specializing in bringing something very, very good, out of something very, very bad.” (adapted from Ortberg, 2010, 241-242)

            God gave Peter a second chance that day, and God is longing to give you a second chance this day.

            It honestly doesn’t matter what you’ve done; how bad you think you are, what other people might think about you, God’s grace is available to you; God longs to redeem you.

            This life lesson from the beach reminds us that God can and will go anywhere to bring His children the grace and mercy they need; He’ll even go to where least expect Him.

            The disciples never thought they would come face to face with Jesus on the beach, but they did, and if you are dealing with something that’s just too big for you, I want to encourage you to look for—and find--- the life changing power of Jesus.

            You’ll notice that after Jesus had restored Peter, and gave him a glimpse into the kind of life he would live from that moment on, He gave Peter a single command: “…follow me” ( JN.21:19, NLT2)

            The call has always been—will always be—to follow Jesus, not for what He can do for you, but for what He wants to do in you.

            If you’re ready for God to remove the junk that you’re carrying around, today is your grace-filled day.

            This life lesson from the beach reminds us that “anyone can be forgiven from anything”, even what that thing you’re holding on to.

            We read in 2 Corinthians 12, that God’s “…grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)

            God’s grace is enough to remove all the junk that has been, that is piling up in your life and He is inviting you to receive this grace right now:

            “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NLT2)

            If your heart, life and walk with God isn’t what or where it should be today, this life lesson from the beach reminds us that anyone can be forgiven of anything.

            Jesus is waiting beside the beach to bring you what you need the most: redemption.

            As we move into a time of reflection and response, if the Lord is speaking to you about receiving his mercy, grace and forgiveness, don’t leave this place until you meet with Jesus, who is inviting you to come to Him.