Hope Perseveres

 

    Life is full of ups and downs.  The stabilizing factor is your hope in Jesus.  About the 40th day after the resurrection the disciples were all together fishing.  They found comfort and strength in being together even if Jesus was not there.  Jesus was no longer with them all the time.  He was busy finishing up his work on earth.  He came to them one last time to give them some last remarks, commands, and promises.

    The disciples had been fishing for hours with no success when someone from the shore yelled at them to cast their net on the other side.  They were not too far from shore, so they could hear clearly.  Peter realized it was Jesus and dived into the water to beat the boat back to the beach.  That is hope that perseveres.  

    Hope that perseveres takes action.  It doesn't let disappointment or failure stop it from driving them toward Jesus.  Jesus still knew that Peter needed to forgive himself, so he took a little time to spend alone with Him to have him forgive himself, encourage, and give him purpose.  It was this moment that enabled Peter to accept redemption. 

    The outcome of hope that perseveres is maturity.  Peter stopped speaking so rashly.  He stopped before he spoke after that.  He understood true devotion and dedicated the rest of his life to building Jesus' church: telling the good news, accepting new Christians, discipleship training, and building unity in a group of people.

    After Jesus' resurrection Peter went back to fishing because that is what he knew.  He didn't know how to live anymore without Jesus and was not in a great place mentally or emotionally.  However, after the personal encounter with Jesus just before he ascended it gave him a new hope.  This hope empowered him to become a great leader and accomplish things that he never imagined.  

    Hope that perseveres enabled Peter to love like Jesus taught him to love.  He chose to love people because Jesus loved people.  He declared Jesus' way to the world as the only way because he had been humbled by that love and understood the truth in a way the world never could without encountering Jesus.  

    After Jesus' resurrection, Peter never made the mistake to put Jesus in a box of "reality" again.  He understood that with Jesus anything is possible, so never say never.  Never put yourself in a box because that puts Jesus in a box.  Do not make vows that you can't keep because you represent Jesus.  Live in confidence in what Jesus can do in your life.  Allow him to use your brokenness and turn it into something beautiful.

Romans 5:3-5, 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, Philippians 4:10-14, James 1: 2-4, & 2 Peter 1:3-9