Today Daily Devotional

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

— John 6:68

Crowds can be fickle, switching quickly from enthusiasm to rejection and even violence. Sometimes these dramatic swings are triggered by just a few words. Jesus’ hard teaching in John 6 shows that his words can trigger rejection or lead to life.

As Jesus’ reputation grew, the crowds of people around him dramatically increased. Why? Because he was a wonder worker. Just a day or two earlier, Jesus had fed a huge crowd of several thousand people (John 6:1-15). But while the crowds were drawn to his miraculous works, they didn’t always like his surprising teachings. At the synagogue in Capernaum, he had told the crowd that if they wanted to have eternal life, they had to eat his body and drink his blood (6:53-59). Turned off by that imagery, many people rejected Jesus and left.

Jesus asked his closest disciples if they wanted to leave too. Speaking on behalf of them all, Peter asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” And then he made this bedrock confession: “You have the words of eternal life.”

When the Holy Spirit softens our hearts and opens our eyes to faith in Christ, we can see Jesus for who he really is, just as Peter did. Jesus is the Son of God, our only truth for faith and life. And then, like Peter, we can also trust him as we live and serve.

Jesus, only “you have the words of eternal life.” Help us to follow you faithfully as we live and serve in your name each day. Amen.

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

— Matthew 14:31

Have you ever walked on water? I have, but only in the dead of winter, when the ice on a pond has been thick enough to hold my weight. Even then, I’ve always felt uneasy, especially if I hear an ominous cracking sound.

Miraculously, Peter did walk on water. But when he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink.

After reaching out and catching Peter, Jesus seems to scold him, saying, “You of little faith. . . . Why did you doubt?” But is Jesus really scolding here? After all, Peter had enough faith to begin walking out on the water—and none of the other disciples even got out of the boat. In this story Peter’s walking on and then sinking into the water captures the highs and lows of his faith in Jesus.

In some ways, we who follow Jesus have had similar experiences, haven’t we? In our daily walk with the Lord, we all have moments of faith and moments of doubt. Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and noticed with horror the howling wind and the rolling waves. We too begin to sink when we focus on the dangers of life’s storms.

When Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat, however, the wind and waves died down. Only Jesus, the Son of God and Lord over creation, can do such amazing things.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. He will never let you sink.

When life’s storms overwhelm us, Lord, help us to keep our eyes on you, trusting that we are secure in your hands. Amen.

When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother.

— Luke 8:51

Yesterday my daily-dictionary app sent me the word coterie. This word comes to us from the French language and refers to an “inner circle of friends.” Luke’s story of healings in this passage introduces Jesus’ coterie—his inner circle of disciples.

News had spread about Jesus’ teaching and healings, so a crowd gathered as he and his disciples returned to Capernaum. Jairus, a local religious leader, came and pleaded with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. Then, on the way, Jesus was delayed by a woman who desperately needing healing from chronic bleeding. And by the time they reached Jairus’s home, the young girl had died. Undaunted, Jesus entered her room anyway, followed by her parents and Peter, John, and James.

Why does Jesus choose only Peter, John, and James to see him raise the little girl from death? Although Jesus’ purpose isn’t entirely clear, we see Peter, John, and James playing important roles later as they bear witness to the identity and power of Jesus, the risen Lord. Indeed, their testimony about Jesus in the New Testament helps to provide the foundations of the good-news message of God’s love and salvation in Christ.

Jesus has chosen each of us too to share about his amazing love and power so that people everywhere can have new life in him.

Lord Jesus, strengthen our faith so that we too can be your witnesses in the world. Amen.

The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

— Mark 1:31

Though we don’t know much about Simon Peter’s life, we discover here that he was married (since he had a mother-in-law). We also learn that Peter’s call to follow Jesus touched the lives of his loved ones.

Jesus had begun teaching people about the kingdom of God, and he had also healed a man who was possessed by an impure spirit (or demon) that identified him as “the Holy One of God” (see Mark 1:21-28). News about him was beginning to travel fast.

After teaching in the local synagogue in Capernaum that day, Jesus and his disciples went to the home of Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew. There they found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with a fever. Taking her hand and helping her up, Jesus cured her—and she soon began to serve the family’s guests.

This story shows us that while Jesus was certainly concerned with his mission of teaching about God’s kingdom and bringing relief by casting out spirits that opposed God, he also cared about the family members of his followers. This helps us see that Jesus loves and cares for the people we love too.

And Peter’s mother-in-law’s response reminds us that when we have met Jesus and know that he has made us whole, the right thing to do is to serve him in whatever ways we can.

We thank and praise you, Jesus, for your love for us and for our loved ones. Help us to extend your love to others who need you. Amen.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

— Luke 5:10

Do you like fishing? I do, although I often return home with an empty bucket. Unlike me, Simon Peter didn’t fish for fun; his life depended on it. In this dramatic story, Peter not only catches a boatload of fish, but he is called by Jesus the Messiah to follow him.

After an unsuccessful night of fishing, Simon and his crew were washing out their nets when Jesus came by. He asked if he could use their boat for speaking to the people by the lakeshore, and then later he told the fishermen to take their boat out for a catch of fish. Simon wearily complied. He was soon overwhelmed, however, with hauling in a catch of so many fish that his nets nearly broke. Simon fell at Jesus’ feet. He knew he was in the presence of the Lord, whose authority over creation was overwhelmingly clear.

Simon’s encounter with Jesus that day echoed the call of prophets like Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, who knew they were in the presence of the living God. And, like the prophets, Simon Peter was called by the Lord to serve him. And what would that service be? Jesus told Peter that from now on he would “fish for people” by drawing people around him to the love of Jesus.

When we meet Jesus, the living God, we do well to fall to our knees too. Jesus calls each of us to follow him and to share in the glorious task of drawing others to his love.

As with Peter, Lord Jesus, you call us to follow you and to share your love with others. Please give us strength, wisdom, and courage to share your love. Amen.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon. . . . You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

— John 1:42

“Buster,” “Scout,” “Ace,” and “Sunshine” are all great nicknames. Some nicknames are humorous, some are affectionate, and some reveal character traits. Jesus gave Simon a nickname that we could translate as “Rocky.”

In the book of John we meet Andrew, who began following Jesus after John the Baptist called him “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Filled with excitement, Andrew later brought his brother Simon to meet Jesus as well. And when Jesus met Simon, he looked at him and gave him a new name: Cephas. This Aramaic word means “Rock,” or “Rocky,” and in Greek it translates to Petros (“Peter”).

This nickname carries a lot of weight, and Peter becomes a major figure in the New Testament. Sometimes he speaks with courage and faith, like when he says Jesus is the “Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). At other times, though, Peter shows that he can be remarkably weak, like when he denies even knowing Jesus (John 18:15-27).

What should we make of this towering yet flawed figure in Jesus’ inner circle and in the early church? All of Jesus’ followers are a bit like him—sometimes strong and other times weak. The good news for Peter, though, is that Jesus never abandoned him but called him to serve despite his flaws. The good news for us, too, is that Jesus will never leave us and that he equips us to serve despite our failures.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your faithful love. Help us to serve you in all we do. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd. . . .

— Psalm 23:1

When the psalm writer wrote this beautiful song, he may well have been thinking of the Lord’s guiding hand throughout the history of his people Israel.

God had called the people’s forefathers, promising to be their God and to bless them and their descendants (Genesis 12-35). God had freed the people from slavery in Egypt, guiding them faithfully through desert wastelands to the promised land of Canaan (Exodus 3 - Joshua 24), where they became established as his covenant people—and where David, the psalmist himself, set up Jerusalem as the center where God would be worshiped (2 Samuel 5-7).

And when Jesus, the Son of God, came to live and teach among us, he picked up on the beautiful themes of this psalm to announce that he is the good shepherd who will always care for God’s sheep, calling all who will follow him to have eternal life in his name (John 10). Jesus also introduced his followers to the coming of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us today, filling us with God’s presence and teaching us to live like Jesus (John 14-16).

Throughout history the faithful Lord our shepherd has made himself known to us, seeking us out when we were lost, and calling us to follow him and have life to the full.

As we journey with the shepherd, may we be confident in his faithful care and inspired to participate in his grace for all whom he calls to his fold.

Lord, continue to bless and keep us as you shine your face on us and give us your peace. Amen.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

— Psalm 23:6

Forever is a long time. And most of us are not fans of waiting. Sometimes even TV ads between our favorite shows can seem unending.

When we think about it, forever can seem intimidating or overwhelming. So it can help to think about this in connection with relationships. Relationships with family members often stand the test of time, and yet today a 35-year marriage can seem like a rare treasure. In our mobile and divisive culture today, a 46-year friendship may also be less common than in the past.

The psalm writer wants the Lord’s sheep to know that the good shepherd will never let us go. This is a comfort that can carry us through the ups and downs of challenging relationships in the here and now.

We can also think of forever in terms of location. Many of us sheep are pretty happy with the life we have here on earth. We are often able to find places we enjoy for beauty and bliss, and it can be hard to imagine anything better because this is all we know.

But the psalmist reminds us that the shepherd may call us to move along to other pastures—and yet that may mean going through tough passageways and dark valleys at times. Being in a loving relationship with the good shepherd will keep us calm, though, and eventually we’ll move on to new pastures in a new heaven and earth, where we will live with him forever.

How does this promise encourage you today?

Lord, help us to trust in you, knowing that you are with us now and forever. Amen.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

— Psalm 23:6

Most cultures have a word for that feeling we all get when we experience being home. It includes a sense of safety and warmth and even coziness and intimacy. We all long for these things. If we didn’t have these in the setting we grew up in, perhaps we could find them in the home of a friend or in a group of caring friends or in the wonder of God’s creation. Home is where we can let down our guard and be ourselves.

The psalm writer affirms that he feels at home “in the house of Lord”—and that has to do with the presence of the Lord. So home is wherever the Lord his shepherd is present. In this sense home is experienced more in relationship than in terms of place. Home is not restricted to time or space. The one who made us and shaped us and knows our name is home to us.

Following the shepherd is where we belong, and this includes being with the Lord’s other sheep. The shepherd even searches out his sheep who might leave the fold because he knows he can care for them best.

In today’s world there are so many people who feel lonely and isolated. They long for home. And those who know the shepherd can point out the way, confident that the lost and lonely will be received with joy!

In what ways is the shepherd nudging you to extend someone an invitation home today?

Lord, we are so grateful that we belong to you and your flock, your church. Help us to extend your love to all who need the home that only you can provide. Amen.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

— Galatians 5:22-23

My mother used to advise me and my sisters to leave a place better than we found it.

What might that look like for followers of the good shepherd? What evidence might there be that one of Jesus’ sheep has been in the area? Paul, who wrote Galatians, lists some attributes and behaviors that ought to be noticeable in Jesus’ sheep.

As the Holy Spirit shepherds us from within, we grow to reflect the Spirit’s presence within us. We begin to radiate the character and attributes of Jesus. As he treats us with gentleness, patience, and kindness, these attributes begin to flow out from us to others. The goodness, love, and peace that we experience in his constant companionship overflow to others as well.

Jesus’ sheep are anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit and, as Psalm 23 puts it, our cups overflow. Anyone we meet can be a recipient, and everywhere we go can be a veritable splash zone of God’s goodness, which is so attractive that others want to share in it too. We need to pray that we reflect the Lord’s attributes faithfully, because we know we are still tempted to wander and to hoard and squander the goodness that the shepherd gives us.

Where is the Spirit inviting you to share his presence today?

Spirit of God, help us to bear your fruit as you work faithfully within us, aiming to bless others with Jesus’ love wherever we go. Amen.