We took a side trip down Peter’s life last week, looking at a parable he heard Jesus tell the crowds about what it takes to be a “follower” of Jesus – audacious availability! Jesus’ demand that His followers are 100% sold to the mission to put God above all else can hit us hard in our busy, modern world. On the journey to becoming faithful, available, and teachable was a reminder that sometimes there is a cost, and that Jesus asks us to count that cost before saying yes.
This Sunday we return directly to Peter’s story. We will pick up just a few short days after he denied Jesus three times when Jesus was crucified. Peter is wandering internally, overcome with guilt, feeling lost and confused after Jesus’ death. In fact, we’re told that as disciples were debating back and forth about what the resurrection might mean, Peter just abruptly turns to them and says – “I am going fishing.”
When we stop to think about it, in some ways Peter is telling the group – “I have no idea what’s happening, but before Jesus, I was making my living fishing. I am going back to revisit that life.”
Maybe Peter just wanted to fish… or maybe he was doing exactly what Jesus said not to do when it comes to our availability. Maybe Peter had put his “hand to the plow and looked back again.” Thankfully, Jesus meets Peter right where he is in the moment to softly call him back to work as a disciple. It’s a wonderful teachable moment recorded at the very end of the Gospel of John.
We sure hope you’ll join us this week! Sunday at 10:30 AM at the Grove Theater, 123 Randolph Road. Bring a smile and don’t be afraid to show it!
Reminder: Monday May 3rd at 7:00pm we will meet in the lobby for a Q&A time about the Bible. If you’ve ever had questions that you ever wanted to ask about God, or the Bible and the way it relates to our lives, come on down – or tune into our livestream of this session.
Baby Dedications will be held on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 9th. If you’ve recently had a new edition and want to dedicate your child and family to God, High Places traditionally does this on Mother’s Day. In the time together, we make commitments both as a family unit and as a church family, to lift your journey with your child up to God in prayer. For more details, please contact Kady Marcotte – or reply here to this message and we’ll get that ball rolling.
Thanks everyone! May is here and I suspect by the end of this month most anyone who wants a vaccine will have had the opportunity to receive one. As we close out Spring, we will do so with an increasingly level of freedom with regards to masks and social distancing. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!
Love you all, and praise be to God for His wonderful love.
David
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Psalms 143:8