Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for June 2

GONE FISHING

From: June 2, 2024

‘Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing’ (John 21:3 ESV).

Some time after the resurrected Jesus had appeared to his disciples in Jerusalem, Peter decided to return to Capernaum and go fishing. Six of the Twelve disciples decided to go with him. But they fished all night and “caught nothing.”

Peter had left his nets to follow Jesus three years prior. Why return to his nets now? Wasn’t it because he doubted his calling after denying Jesus three times before his crucifixion? He knew Jesus had defeated sin, death, and the grave. He’d seen the risen Lord. Yet, it seemed that he no longer felt worthy to be one of his apostles. So he decided to go back to his former life.

But Jesus appeared again to them on the beach that morning, repeating the miracle of filling Peter’s empty net with fish as he had done when he first called him (See Luke 5). Jesus invited them to join him for breakfast, where he asked Peter three times whether he loved him. In this way, restoring Peter’s calling.

Have you ever tried to return to your former way of life after deciding to follow Jesus? You decided to go fishing, but “caught nothing?” Yet Jesus pursued you, calling you back to himself?

This is the love that Jesus has for us, that even when we feel like giving up, he never gives up on us. He restores us and calls us back to love him as he first loved us.

PRAYER: Dear Father, strengthen us when we feel like giving up. For we sometimes feel unworthy and overwhelmed. Renew our strength and fill us afresh by Your Spirit that we might serve You with zeal. In Jesus’ name, amen.

LOVE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED

From: June 2, 2023

‘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”‘ (John 21:17 NLT).

The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had warned. Surely Peter, the “Rock,” was still struggling with his personal failure when the Lord appeared to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. Indeed, Peter had become so rudderless that he had returned to his nets. The other disciples followed him and they spent the whole night fishing, yet caught nothing.

Sounds familiar doesn’t it? For that morning, the Lord called out from the shore asking whether they had caught anything. When they answered “No,” He told them to cast on the right side of the boat. When they did, they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Immediately, John recognized that it was Jesus calling to them from the shore and said, “It is the Lord!” At this, Peter jumped in the water and swam ashore.

Why would Jesus essentially repeat the scene of Peter’s original calling? For Luke 5 recorded that Peter first answered Christ’s call after a similar fishing miracle. He did it for Peter. Peter’s failure had him looking to the past, thinking to return to those things that he once knew. Yet, Jesus renewed Peter’s call to Himself.

O what love! Peter had denied Jesus, but the One who is love itself, would not deny him!

So as they sat on the shore together, enjoying a breakfast provided by Jesus, the Lord asked Peter the same question three times. “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Why such a question? Does the Lord of all creation care whether we love Him? Apparently, He does.

But why ask Peter the same question three times? Because Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus gave Peter the opportunity, painful though it was, to declare his love three times. With each declaration, Jesus reminded Peter of his calling, “Feed My sheep.” With each declaration, Simon was restored to being Peter, “the Rock,” once again.

When we make a commitment to Jesus, as Peter learned, he helps us to keep it. Jesus loved us first and it is His love that enables us to keep our commitment to love Him back.

Coincidently, this OYB reading falls on June 2nd, my wedding anniversary. On this day 44 years ago, my wife, Robin, and I committed to love one another until death do us part. The Lord has blessed us by helping us keep that commitment to Him and to one another, and to grow even more in love as the years have passed.

Jesus still asks His followers, “Do you love me?” It’s a question of relationship, not religion. It’s an invitation to commit your life to the One who is Love itself. And His love will not be denied.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we need Your love so desperately in our land today. Pour out Your love on us, O Lord. Make us vessels of reconciliation and forgiveness. Even when someone denies us, help us to go to them to be restored in fellowship again. For You are Love. And we are Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”’ (John 21:22 NLT).

From: June 2, 2022

THE LAST LIVING APOSTLE

After Jesus told Peter the manner in which he would someday die for his witness, he asked about John’s future. Peter asked, “What about him, Lord?” The Lord responded that he shouldn’t worry about the plan God had for John’s future. He should focus on following Jesus, not on what happens to John.

John, who was probably the youngest disciple, perhaps still a teen when he started following Jesus, was in fact the last living apostle. He died around the year 100 AD. He was boiled in oil by the Romans but miraculously survived. He was exiled to the Island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation. He eventually returned to Ephesus where most accounts state that he died peaceably.

Because of John’s long life and ministry, his witness and influence were carried into the 2nd century through two of his disciples: Polycarp and Ignatius. Both of these men were discipled by John and both later became bishops. Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna and Ignatius was bishop of Antioch. Both of these men fought against early heresies and both died martyr’s deaths.

One of early Christianity’s most influential theologians and apologists, Irenaeus, was discipled by Polycarp, and therefore received many eye-witness stories about the apostle John from his mentor. Irenaeus is best known for his work, “Against Heresies,” a refutation of gnosticism. Irenaeus died in 202 A.D., having defended the Scriptures and the orthodox teaching of the apostles to the next generation.

It is insightful to consider the clear discipleship line from Jesus to Irenaeus across the first two centuries: Jesus to John, John to Polycarp, and Polycarp to Irenaeus. That’s how the gospel has traveled until today, one person telling another, who tells another and so on…

All of the apostles died a martyr’s death, except for John. The disciple whom Jesus loved lived to see the gospel successfully carried into the next century and beyond.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for the witness of John and the faithfulness of those who have carried the gospel forward through the centuries to our day. But most of all, thank You for Jesus. For it is through Him that we have become Your children. Now, strengthen us to carry the gospel to the next generation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”’ (John 21:17 HCSB).

From: June 2, 2021

THE LOVE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED

The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had warned. Surely Peter, the “Rock,” was still struggling with his personal failure when the Lord appeared to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. Indeed, Peter had become so rudderless that he had returned to his nets. The other disciples followed him and they spent the whole night fishing, yet caught nothing.

Sounds familiar doesn’t it? For that morning, the Lord called out from the shore asking whether they had caught anything. When they answered “No,” He told them to cast on the right side of the boat. When they did, they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Immediately, John recognized that it was Jesus calling to them from the shore saying, “It is the Lord!” At this, Peter jumped in the water and swam ashore.

Why would Jesus essentially repeat the scene of Peter’s original calling? For Luke 5 recorded that Peter first answered Christ’s call after a similar fishing miracle.

He did it for Peter. Peter’s failure had him looking to the past, thinking to return to those things that he once knew. Yet, Jesus renewed Peter’s call to Himself. O what love! Peter had denied Jesus, but the One who is love itself, would not deny him!

So as they sat on the shore together, enjoying a breakfast provided by Jesus, the Lord asked Peter the same question three times. “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Why such a question? Does the Lord of all creation care whether we love Him? Apparently, He does.

But why ask Peter the same question three times? Because Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus gave Peter the opportunity, painful though it was, to declare his love three times. With each declaration, Jesus reminded Peter of his calling, “Feed My sheep.” With each declaration, Simon was restored to being Peter, “the Rock,” again.

When we make a commitment to Jesus, as Peter learned, he helps us to keep it. Jesus loved us first and it is His love that enables us to commit to love him back.

Coincidently, this OYB reading falls on June 2nd, my wedding anniversary. On this day 42 years ago, my wife, Robin, and I committed to love one another until death do us part. The Lord has blessed us by helping us keep that commitment to Him and to one another, and to grow even more in love as the years have passed.

Jesus still asks His followers, “Do you love me?” It’s a question of relationship, not religion. It’s an invitation to commit your life to the One who is Love itself. And His love will not be denied.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we need Your love so desperately in our land today. Pour out Your love on us, O Lord. Make us vessels of reconciliation and forgiveness. Even when someone denies us, help us to go to them to be restored in fellowship again. For You are Love. And we are Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”’ (John 21:17 NKJV).

From: June 2, 2020

THE LOVE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED

The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had warned. Surely Peter, the “Rock,” was still struggling with his personal failure when the Lord appeared to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. Indeed, Peter had become so rudderless that he had returned to his nets. The other disciples followed him and they spent the whole night fishing, yet caught nothing.

Sounds familiar doesn’t it? For that morning, the Lord called out from the shore asking whether they had caught anything. When they answered “No,” He told them to cast on the right side of the boat. When they did, they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Immediately, John recognized that it was Jesus calling to them from the shore saying, “It is the Lord!” At this, Peter jumped in the water and swam ashore.

Why would Jesus essentially repeat the scene of Peter’s original calling? For Luke 5 recorded that Peter first answered Christ’s call after a similar fishing miracle.

He did it for Peter. Peter’s failure had him looking to the past, thinking to return to those things that he once knew. Yet, Jesus renewed Peter’s call to Himself. O what love! Peter had denied Jesus, but the One who is love itself, would not deny him!

So as they sat on the shore together, enjoying a breakfast provided by Jesus, the Lord asked Peter the same question three times. “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Why such a question? Does the Lord of all creation care whether we love Him? Apparently, He does.

But why ask Peter the same question three times? Because Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus gave Peter the opportunity, painful though it was, to declare his love three times. With each declaration, Jesus reminded Peter of his calling, “Feed My sheep.” With each declaration, Simon was restored to being Peter, “the Rock,” again.

When we make a commitment to Jesus, as Peter learned, he helps us to keep it. Jesus loved us first and it is His love that enables us to commit to love him back.

Coincidently, this OYB reading falls on June 2nd, my wedding anniversary. On this day 41 years ago, Robin and I committed to love one another until death do us part. The Lord has blessed us by helping us keep that commitment to Him and to one another, and to grow even more in love as the years have passed.

Jesus still asks His followers, “Do you love me?” It’s a question of relationship, not religion. It’s an invitation to commit your life to the One who is Love itself. And His love will not be denied.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we need Your love so desperately in our land today. Pour out Your love on us, O Lord. Make us vessels of reconciliation and forgiveness. Even when someone denies us, help us to go to them to be restored in fellowship again. For You are Love. And we are Yours. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”’ (John 21:22 NLT).

From: June 2, 2018

THE LAST LIVING APOSTLE

After Jesus told Peter the manner in which he would someday die for his witness, he asked about John’s future. Peter asked, “What about him, Lord?” The Lord responded that he shouldn’t worry about the plan God had for John’s future. He should focus on following Jesus, not on what happens to John.

John, who was probably the youngest disciple, perhaps still a teen when he started following Jesus, was in fact the last living disciple. He died around the year 100 AD. He was boiled in oil by the Romans but survived. He was exiled to the Island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation. He eventually returned to Ephesus where most accounts state that he died peaceably. All of the apostles died a martyr’s death, except for John. The disciple who Jesus loved lived to see the gospel successfully carried into the next century.

“How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” (Proverbs 16:16 NKJV).

From: June 2, 2017

Gold and silver are the currency of the world, but in heaven they will be as common as the stones we walk on. However, wisdom and understanding are both valuable here and essential for heaven. And where do we “get wisdom?” It is found in Christ alone. For “Christ is the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). True riches are found in Christ alone (Phil. 4:19).

‘He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”’ (John 21:17 ESV)

From: June 2, 2016

After Jesus’ resurrection he appeared to his disciples many times. On one occasion he asked Peter three times whether he loved him. Certainly this was connected to Peter’s denying Jesus three times before his crucifixion. In this manner Jesus helped restore their relationship, giving Peter the opportunity to renew his pledge of love, even reminding him of his earlier promise that he was willing to die for Jesus. When we make a commitment to Jesus, as Peter learned, he helps us to keep it. Jesus loved us first and it is His love that enables us to commit to love him back. Coincidently, this OYB reading falls on June 2nd, my wedding anniversary. On this day 37 years ago, Robin and I committed to love one another until death do us part. The Lord has blessed us by helping us keep that commitment to Him and to one another, and to grow even more in love as the years have passed. Jesus still asks His followers, “Do you love me?” It’s a question of relationship, not religion. It’s an invitation to commit your life to the One who is Love itself.

‘He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”’ (John 21:17 NKJV)

From: June 2, 2015

After Jesus’ resurrection he appeared to his disciples many times. On one occasion he asked Peter three times whether he loved him. Certainly this was connected to Peter’s denying Jesus three times before his crucifixion. In this manner Jesus helped restore their relationship, giving Peter the opportunity to renew his pledge of love, even reminding him of his earlier promise that he was willing to die for Jesus. When we make a commitment to Jesus, as Peter learned, he helps us to keep it. Jesus loved us first and it is His love that enables us to commit to love him back. Coincidently, this OYB reading falls on June 2nd, my wedding anniversary. On this day 36 years ago, Robin and I committed to love one another until death do us part. The Lord has blessed us by helping us keep that commitment to Him and to one another, and to grow even more in love as the years have passed. Jesus still asks His followers, “Do you love me?” It’s a question of relationship, not religion. It’s an invitation to commit your life to the One who is Love itself.

“Jesus repeated the question: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?'” (John 21:16 NLT)

From: June 2, 2014

After Jesus’ resurrection he appeared to his disciples many times. On his third appearance he asked Peter three times whether he loved him. Certainly this must be connected to Peter’s denying Jesus three times before his crucifixion. In this manner Jesus helped restore their relationship, giving Peter the opportunity to renew his pledge of love, even reminding him of his earlier promise that he was willing to die for Jesus. Our pledge to love Jesus even unto death is of no value without Jesus helping us to keep our relationship. When we make a commitment to Jesus, as Peter learned, he helps us to keep it. Jesus loves us and it is the power of his love that enables us to love him back. Coincidently, this OYB reading falls on June 2nd, my anniversary. On this day 35 years ago, Robin and I committed to love one another until death do us part. We have kept that promise so far and we give Jesus all the credit for empowering us to not only keep loving, but to love one another more and more deeply as the years roll on. Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Perhaps the most important question we will ever answer.