For a description of the Year 2 (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Luke 5
I don’t think I ever really noticed Peter’s response to the first miraculous fish catch. When Jesus told him to put out his nets, he protested but obeyed. After barely getting the resulting overload of fish to shore, Peter “fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8). That may not be the response I would expect from experiencing such a miracle, but it is the kind of response I would expect from somebody who has just realized that they are in the presence of God. Somehow, awareness of God increases our awareness of our own sinfulness. Peter knew he was not worthy to be in God’s presence. None of us are. But do we know it? Do we even recognize when we are in God’s presence?
I also think this was a very intentional miracle on Jesus’ part. Jesus was preparing Peter and the others to fish for people. He needed them to understand that the results were His. He gave them a very vivid image of what He can do with our obedience.
Why did Jesus eat and drink with sinners? Who are you hanging out with and why? Jesus had a mission. In His words to the self-righteous religious leaders, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31a-32). His mission was to sinners. So He hung out with sinners in order to accomplish that mission. Since Jesus later passed His mission on to us, His followers, we are to do the same. It is important to note, however, that there is a HUGE difference in hanging out with people in order to minister to them and having intimate fellowship with people. Jesus had His disciples for the latter. We should not have intimate fellowship with those who do not follow Christ.
Gen. 9-10
I find it very interesting that the “pride” movement, which supports every kind of sexual relationship except that which God declared to be in His image – male and female – chose not only “pride” as their slogan, but the rainbow as their logo. God flooded the earth because the intent of man’s heart was nothing but evil. They were deviant. To be deviant is to depart from a standard. Because we were created in God’s image, God was and always will be that standard. But they put themselves above God, which is pride. And so their pride turned them away from God’s design and His image. For this, God destroyed them with a flood. The rainbow is the sign of God’s promise to never do that again.
So by taking “pride” as their slogan they are, perhaps unwittingly, declaring their defiance of God. And by taking the rainbow as their logo, they are throwing their defiance in God’s face. They are taking advantage of His promise. I find it a very ironic choice. Sadly for them, they will get away with their defiance for a time. But, though He promised to never flood the whole earth again, God has also promised that one day all evil will be permanently destroyed.
We are all guilty of pride at times. It is an attempt to cover up what should be our shame; a refusal to admit we are wrong. Would that we, like Peter, would recognize our shame and acknowledge it. Only then can Jesus cover it for good.
Ps. 3
What can you learn from this psalm about dealing with opposition and attack? David always acknowledged God as His shield and His deliverer. He consistently turned to God in the face of any opposition. It is a good model to follow. We need not fear anything that comes up against us if God is with us. And God will always be with us so long as we are with Him.
I like to look at David’s Psalms as if they were Jesus’ words. This one, like so many of them, fits quite well. When I read, “Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him’” (Ps. 3:2), I picture Jesus’ taunters as He hung on the cross. And when I read “I lie down and sleep; I wake again” (Ps. 3:5a), I see Christ’s death and resurrection. But I like the last verse the best. “From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people” (Ps. 3:8). Jesus is the LORD’s deliverance, who brought God’s blessing to us.