RENEWING FIRE
Without God we are nothing for everything that we have is from God. In humility, let us come before God and acknowledge our shortcomings.
John 21:7-9 NLT
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. [8] The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. [9] When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
The charcoal fire is mentioned twice in the book of John and in both passages Jesus and Peter were present. The first involved Peter denying Jesus three times, for fear of his own life (John 18:15-27). He went away weeping bitterly (Matthew 26:75). The second involves Jesus restoring Peter to ministry after a miraculous catch (John 21:12-19). A few days after His resurrection, the disciples saw Jesus cooking a meal for them over a charcoal fire (anthrakia, Gk). Peter jumps from the boat towards Jesus.
Peter’s Response – First Charcoal Fire made by Men (Luke 22:55)
There is a time in our lives, like Peter, that we are confident that we will not deny Jesus in times of need (Luke 22:33). We are so sure of ourselves that we won’t turn back our lives from Jesus. But when difficulties arise, we tend to forget what we promised before God. Peter realized he had made a terrible mistake when he betrayed Jesus.
Is there some point in your life that you lean on your own strength and turn your back away from Jesus?
Godly Response – Second Charcoal Fire made by Jesus
Jesus emphasizes that our confidence is in Him alone (1 Corinthians 3:5). Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything on our own But our confidence comes from God. Without God we are nothing for everything that we have is from God. In humility, let us come before God and acknowledge our shortcomings. Let us allow God to search our hearts fully.
Search Me God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead in the way everlasting.
Psalms 139:23-24
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you that you help us restore our relationship with you, though we deny you in times of trouble, you still didn’t give up on us, you purposely came towards us to reinstate our position to you, you never fail to show us the great love you have for us. Constantly reminds us to remain in your love. Amen