John 21:18-25 Is that our business?

As we conclude this week's study, I am still very thankful for Peter. So grateful!

He was such a great example of the things that we do.

We try oh, so hard.

But we fail. Sometimes we fail hard.

We may boast about things.

                          Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day
                          may bring. Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; 
                          an outsider, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:1-2)

Here is what we should boast of:

                         For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has
                         accomplished through me ....  (Romans 15:18a)

We might not deny Christ, but we might fail to speak up for Him -- isn't that kinda the same?

Here's what we should do:

                        But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being
                        prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason
                        for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
                       having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those
                       who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.  
                       (I Peter 3:15-16)                     

(What's awesome is that those instructions were written by the same man who denied His Lord....)

We can be overly concerned about what others are doing or not doing, comparing ourselves.

                       For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am
                       I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man,
                       I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

Here is how we should act:

                        Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker
                        who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
                        (II Timothy 2:15)

We can be restored and have a ministry that glorifies our Savior.

                         And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who
                         has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,
                         confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (I Peter 5:10)

Peter is an awesome example . . . he's an inspiration to me. I hope he is to you, too.
In the final verse of John's gospel, he says:

                         Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were
                        written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have
                        room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

We can agree that is probably true; we can be grateful for our Bible, and for John's gospel that we have studied for the past year or so.
We serve an awesome God!