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Marji "Mike" Kruger

Wholehearted Decision

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When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” . . .Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (NIV) Luke 5:8, 10-11

The Scene:
Peter is overcome with his encounter with the Divine Jesus. . . so much so that he acknowledges his own sinfulness (Luke 5:8). Jesus tells him not to be afraid and that “from now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). Peter’s response: he left everything and followed Jesus. Peter encountered the Divine, acknowledged his sinfulness, and then was reassured that he could be a disciple (a follower) of Jesus. His reaction was one of commitment.

When did Jesus call you to be a follower of His? What has been your response? At first, did you wholeheartedly seek to follow Him? And now has that commitment worn off a bit? What do you need to do today to renew your passion in following Christ?

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We Beheld Him!

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The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (NIV) John 1:14

John writes: “We have seen (“beheld” in the NAS) His glory.” Hendriksen and Kistemaker write that the word, beheld “indicates careful and deliberate vision which seeks to interpret its object. It refers, indeed, to physical sight; yet, it always includes a plus, the plus of calm scrutiny, contemplation, or even wonderment. It describes the act of one who does not stare absent-mindedly nor merely look quickly nor necessarily perceive comprehensively. On the contrary, this individual regards an object and reflects upon it. He scans it, examining it with care. He studies it, viewing and considering it thoughtfully (1:32; 4:35; 11:45; Acts 1:11).33 Thus, while Jesus was walking among them, the eye and mind of the evangelist and of other witnesses had rested on the Incarnate Word, until to some extent they had penetrated the mystery; i.e., they had seen his glory: the radiance of his grace and the majesty of his truth manifested in all his works and words (cf. 2:11), the attributes of deity shining through the veil of his human nature.(W. Hendriksen & S. J. Kistemaker)

When do you carefully, deliberately seek out Jesus? When was the last time that your scrutiny of Him resulted in wonderment and awe? When do you examine His Word to understand it and comprehend it? Does your mind and your sight settle on the Incarnate Word?

I’d encourage you to open one of the biographies of Jesus and read it as you’ve never read it before…with new eyes and wonderment of the reality of God becoming flesh…living and dying for you…desiring to be in an intimate relationship with you now.

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Living in the Real World

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The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. (NIV) Luke 9:37

Peter, James and John had just witnessed a supernatural scene. Jesus had been transformed. . . the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. . . Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. . . a cloud appeared and enveloped them . . . the voice of God came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” . . . and then suddenly the disciples were alone with Jesus again (Luke 9:28-36). Not your everyday kind of experience!

But as wonderful as the mountain top experience was, the next morning, Jesus and His disciples descended back into the “real world”. And they returned to much the same scene as they left, people wanting something from them. You see, our character is shaped on the mountain top. . . but our ministry is lived out in the real world.

Are you waiting for God to use you in some spectacular way? Start living out your faith in your day to day activities. God wants our character shaped during our times with Him to be seen in the routine of our regular lives. There’s no job, no life, no activity, no work, no routine, that is too mundane that the touch of God cannot turn it into a reflection of Himself!

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Impetuous Peter

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And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). (NIV) John 1:42

Of all the books in the Bible, 1 Peter has spoken to my heart the most as I walk through challenging times. Peter, the first disciple called by Jesus is the author. Peter was a fisherman from Bethsaida, near of Galilee. Perhaps he was in partnership with James and John. He had a home in Capernaum, which is on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. His strong north-country accent gave him away as a Galilean (Mark 14:70).

Of all the disciples I relate most to impetuous Peter. . .speaking and acting before thinking.

  • He declared his allegiance to Jesus without counting the costs.
  • Typical of Peter’s dominant personality was his readiness to walk to Jesus on the water.
  • It was Peter who asked Jesus the awkward question of how often he should forgive a sinning brother.
  • At the transfiguration, he was one of the three disciples (along with James and John) who accompanied Jesus. Instead of worshipping Jesus when Peter sees His glory, Peter asks if he should construct shelters for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.
  • To Peter’s credit, he was the first disciple to recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
  • Peter quickly declared just before Jesus arrest: “I will lay down my life for you”. . .only to deny Christ 3 times as Jesus predicted.
  • Then he fell asleep at Gethsemane as Jesus prayed just prior to His arrest and crucifixion.

Do you feel defeated today? Are you weary of the struggles? Do you think that God could never use you? God used Peter, an ordinary sinful man. That gives me hope. . .hope that He can use an ordinary sinful woman like me. . .ordinary sinful people like you. . .ordinary sinful people who love Jesus just as Peter loved Him. God used Peter in a powerful way. . .just as He wants to use you!

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All the World is God’s!

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To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? (NIV) Isaiah 40:18

All the World is God’s. . .

  • To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. (Deuteronomy 10:14 NIV)
  • Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. (1 Chronicles 29:11 NIV)
  • The Lord, the LORD Almighty, he who touches the earth and it melts, and all who live in it mourn– the whole land rises like the Nile, then sinks like the river of Egypt– he who builds his lofty palace in the heavens and sets its foundation on the earth, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land– the LORD is his name. (Amos 9:5-6 NIV)
  • ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. (Haggai 2:8 NIV)
  • “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:24-28 NIV)
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The Grace of God

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Braai BG

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
-2 Corinthians 8:9
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Hold Your Tongue!

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Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (NIV) Proverbs 17:28

How do your words get you into trouble? Listen to just a few proverbs that deal with holding your tongue:

  • Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14)
  • He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction. (Proverbs 17:19)
  • A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. (Proverbs 17:27)
  • Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. (Proverbs 17:28)
  • He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.(Proverbs 21:23)
  • Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. (Proverbs 26:20)
  • A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; (Proverbs 27:15)
  • Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.(Proverbs 29:20)

Is your foot getting into your mouth a few too many times? Is it time to start holding your tongue? Why not begin today?

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What’s Next?

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Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The LORD works out everything for his own ends (NIV) Proverbs 16:3-4

When was the last time you wanted to know what to do in a given situation or with a decision? Or do you just willy nilly go on with life with little thought given to the future? God has some advice for all of us in regards to our futures. . .

** Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (NIV) Proverbs 3:5-6
** . . .the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Proverbs 13:4
** All hard work brings a profit, (NIV) Proverbs 14:23
** The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, Proverbs 14:8
** a prudent man gives thought to his steps. (NIV) Proverbs 14:15
** Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (NIV) Proverbs 15:22
** Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The LORD works out everything for his own ends (NIV) Proverbs 16:3-4
** In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. …It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. …Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. (NIV) Proverbs 16:9; 2; 21
** A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? (NIV) Proverbs 20:24
** He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. (NIV) Proverbs 28:26

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