Category: First Things First Devotional

“If I want him to remain until I come,” Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.” John 21:17 HCSB

As a student pastor, there were many times that I counseled with teenagers who would compare themselves to others in their peer group. They frequently felt they were not as pretty, not as smart, or not as popular as others. I would always tell them, “In the comparison game, you will always lose.” We seldom compare ourselves to those we do not hold in high regard. We always wish we were like someone else.

Peter was more concerned about John and what was going to happen to him rather than what Jesus had called him to do. His focus was on someone else rather than on God’s plan for his life. Jesus reminded Peter that he should not concern himself with what would happen to John. That was not his concern. His concern should have been on following Jesus and doing what God had called him to do.

Challenge: Keep your eyes on Jesus and focus on what He has called you to do. Do not compare yourself to others. Concern yourself with following God’s plan instead of looking at others and wishing you were like them.

He asked him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” he said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” Feed My sheep,” Jesus said. John 21:17 HCSB

I love my four children with unconditional, self-sacrificing love. I would be willing to die for them. They may do something that would cause me to be disappointed in them, but there is nothing they can do that would cause me to stop loving them.

The first two times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” He used the Greek word “agape,” which means “self-sacrificing” love. The first two times Peter responded with the Greek word “phileo,” which is translated “brotherly love”. The third time Jesus used the Greek word “phileo,” basically asking, “Do you at least love me as a friend and brother?” After proclaiming that he was willing to die for the Lord, Peter had denied that he even knew the Lord three times. Peter may have been afraid to make a commitment to “agape” love, an unconditional love, therefore he used “phileo” love in response to Jesus’ questions. It grieved Peter when Jesus lowered His request to “phileo” love instead of “agape” love.

Challenge: How would you respond if Jesus were to ask, “Do you ‘agape’ Me?” Would you be able to respond with unconditional love or would you be like Peter and respond with brotherly love?

When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” Feed My lambs,” He told him. John 21:15 HCSB

Many speculate what Jesus meant when He asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” What did He mean by “these”? Was He referring to family, friends, occupation, or possessions? He certainly could have referred to any one of these but could He have been referring to the fish that they had just caught? Peter had returned to the occupation he had known for years before he started following Jesus and became a disciple – fishing. Certainly, as a fisherman, Peter must have been excited about the large number of fish that they had just caught.

Jesus challenged Peter by asking him if he really loved Him more than “these”. He was basically asking Peter if he was going to return to his former occupation or if he was going to follow Him and do what He had called him to do. Jesus then challenged Peter, “Feed My Lambs”. Feeding meant to “to tend” or “to protect”. Jesus wanted to restore Peter’s confidence and his position as a disciple. He wanted him to be a leader and light the way for His other disciples and followers.

Challenge: Jesus may ask you the same question, “Do you love Me more than these?” What is it in your life that you love more than Jesus? Love for Jesus, above everything else, is the basic qualification for being a disciple. Respond by saying, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”

“Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” He told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. Therefore the disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” John 21:6-7 HCSB

I was at the Ryder Cup golf tournament watching the golfers play when I noticed a famous golfer in the gallery. There he was, world famous golfer, Tom Watson. I grabbed my golf hat and a pen and quickly got his autograph. I was not at all expecting to see Tom Watson but was excited to recognize him from a distance and converse with him.

The disciples had gone fishing. They were not expecting to see Jesus. They were far enough out in the lake that the person on shore was not recognizable. These professional fishermen had been fishing all night and had not caught anything. Just imagine how dejected they must have felt when some guy on shore told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat and they would catch something. They must have thought, “Who is this guy to tell us how to fish?” They may have even thought, “Let’s show this guy. Let’s cast the net on the other side and prove that there are no fish out here.” It was not until they began to pull up the fishing net full of fish that they realized the person on shore was the Lord. John could not physically recognize Jesus but spiritually he realized that only Jesus could have miraculously brought that many fish into their nets.

Challenge: Have you recognized Jesus as Lord? He stands on the shore of your life ready to bring a miracle into your life, if you will only recognize Him as Lord.

I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. John 21:3 HCSB

As a ten year old, I can remember fishing at Yellowstone National Park with my dad while on vacation. We were fishing on a narrow peninsula and my father had made his way on down the peninsula. The bobber on my line went under and I pulled back on my fishing pole. I felt the pull of the fish and began to reel him in and started backing up. I keep backing up and reeling in the fish when I actually stepped into the water on the other side of the peninsula. It was a big fish, flopping around on the shore as I pulled it in. I excitingly ran down the peninsula with the fish in my hands, wanting my father to see what I had caught. Later that evening we had fish for dinner.

Peter seemed to be impatient and decided to return to what he knew how to do best – fishing. Perhaps Peter was uncertain about what to do next and needed to do something to relieve the tension of the moment. Peter was a leader and the other disciples immediately followed him and went fishing. Many of the disciples were professional fishermen, yet they fished all night and did not catch anything.

Challenge: What do you do when you feel pressure and wonder what you should do next? Go to Jesus. He can show you where to go and help you have success in whatever you do. Remember that others are watching you and will follow your lead. Be careful what you say and do.

Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer. “ Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27-28 HCSB

The Winter Olympics are currently being shown on television. The network ran a story about one of the olympic skaters who told her coach that she could do a quad (a jump that includes four rotations). The coach bet her that she could not do it. She then proceeded to complete the jump, complete with four rotations. The coach doubted that she could do it but she proved that she could.

Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples. Even though the other disciples had told him that Jesus had risen from the dead, he did not believe it. Thomas is often referred to as being “Doubting Thomas”. When Thomas saw Jesus he made his personal statement of faith by proclaiming that Jesus was his Lord and God.

Challenge: Just as Jesus did not want Thomas to be an unbeliever, He challenges each of us, “Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer”. His desire is for everyone to believe in Him and accept His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Stop doubting and declare Jesus as your personal Lord and God.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:19-20 HCSB

When I worked for Lifeway Christian Resources, as part of my job I was frequently assigned to go to Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center in North Carolina to lead a Sunday School Leadership conference. At other times I was sent to a state convention or to the Southern Baptist Convention to assemble a display and distribute information about resources available from Lifeway.

Jesus sent His disciples into the world, just as the Father had sent Him into the world. He passed on the responsibility of spreading the Good News of salvation around the world to His disciples. Jesus first identified Himself with God the Father. He then sent His disciples into the world to tell others about the love, mercy, and forgiveness that is available to those who believe in Him. It is important that we share the Good News of salvation with those around us.

Challenge: Just as Jesus sent His disciples, He is sending you into the world to be a witness for Him. Remember that your power and authority comes from God the Father. Jesus has set the example in Word and deed on how to accomplish the task of sharing the Gospel message.

In the evening of the first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. John 20:19-20 HCSB

I worked at the Missouri Baptist Convention as the Youth Consultant in the Sunday School Department for several years. Missouri is known as the “Show Me” state. The Secretary of State for Missouri reports that there are a number of stories and legends behind Missouri being called the “Show-Me” state. The slogan is not official, but it is used on Missouri license plates.

The disciples were hiding behind locked doors, afraid of what might happen to them. If the Jewish leaders crucified Jesus, then certainly they would not hesitate to crucify His followers. Jesus miraculously appeared among them. He did not come through the doors. The disciples may have thought they were seeing a ghost but Jesus was quick to to say, “Peace to you!” to calm their fears. He then showed them the wounds in His hands and side to prove that it really was Him. The disciples seemed to have a “show me” attitude. They needed Jesus to prove that it really was Him.

Challenge: These Scriptures indicate that our resurrection bodies will be real bodies but will be different in that they will not be limited by walls and doors. Thank God that as a believer, you will some day have a resurrected body that will no longer experience any pain, suffering, or death.

“Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father – to My God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what He had said to her. John 20:17-18 HCSB

I volunteered at the Senior PGA Championship when it was held at Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. My assignment was to record the scores on the giant score board near the practice area for every player for each hole. When I was not doing my job, I had the opportunity to watch the professional golfers. During the practice rounds I was able to request autographs. I was excited to be able to actually see many professional golfers I had watched on television while growing up.

Mary was not expecting to actually see Jesus alive. Imagine the excitement she must have felt as she actually recognized that Jesus was alive and then hugged Him. Jesus was a real person. This verse confirms the bodily resurrection of Jesus. He was a physical person. Jesus gave her the assignment of going and telling His disciples that He was alive. She probably ran to where the disciples were to tell them the good news that she had actually seen the Lord.

Challenge: Mary’s assignment is the same assignment that every believer has been given – to testify to others the Resurrected Lord. To whom can you proclaim that Jesus is alive and lives today?

“Woman,” Jesus said to her, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, Rabbouni!” – which means “Teacher.” John 20:15-16 HCSB

Many people are looking for peace of mind, success, fame, and fortune in life. Mary Magdalene was the first person to come to the tomb early that morning. She was hoping to anoint the body of Jesus. One might have thought that the disciples of Jesus would have been there early, but instead it was the woman who Jesus had forgiven and accepted. Her early arrival indicated her love and devotion to Jesus.

Mary had already looked into the tomb and had discovered that Jesus’ body was not there. She was probably weeping in grief outside the tomb wondering what had happened to Jesus’ body when Jesus asked her, “Who is it you are looking for?” He knew who she was looking for but wanted to hear her response. Mary did not even turn around but responded, thinking she was talking to the gardener. When Jesus said her name, she immediately recognized Him and with surprise and excitement she called him “Teacher”.

Challenge: Who are you looking for? Are you searching for Jesus? Jesus is calling your name, just as He did when He called Mary’s name. He wants you to recognize Him as Lord and teacher. It is only through Jesus that you can find peace of mind and direction in life.