Category Archives: Accountability

Reflection

John 15:16 “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”

Yesterday, we highlighted four different expressions of love for God based on growth [level] in God. The spiritual infant expresses love for God by eating, sleeping, crying, and so on. The spiritual child expresses love through obedience and devotion. Read the rest of this entry

Fisher Of Men

John 21:10-11 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.”

We would pick up from the final thought from yesterday, which is that we count people because people count. We see in scripture that Jesus was deliberate about picking fishermen as part of His disciples. Fishermen always counted the catch, no matter how large, they will take the time and trouble to count. Read the rest of this entry

Lead-A-Sheep

John 21:9 “When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.”

What do you say to boys that you left, and you expected them to be waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and going for missions, but they have gone back to fishing? You saw them for the first time and you are making breakfast. ‘Boys, come and eat breakfast.’ Read the rest of this entry

From Observation

1 Cor. 10:11 “The things that happened to those people are examples. They were written down to teach us, because we live in a time when all these things of the past have reached their goal.” (NCV)

If you look closely at John 20:1-2 and at how the whole thing panned out, you would realize that these people had no expectations. They came and saw the stone had been rolled away and they still did not think Jesus was resurrected. Instead, they thought someone had stolen His body. Read the rest of this entry

Why?

Luke 22:61-62At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.”

Why didn’t John set Peter straight after he denied Jesus the first time? Jesus was arrested and taken to face trial. John, the beloved, was a local boy of Judea so he knew everybody. While John was allowed inside with Jesus, Peter was locked outside because nobody knew him. Read the rest of this entry

The Other Disciple

Eccl.4:9-10 “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

John 18:17The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” When the woman said, “also”, it means there was someone they knew was Jesus’ disciple, right? They knew John was Jesus’ disciple and John was present as an acknowledged follower of Jesus, Read the rest of this entry

In Fulfilment

John 18:8-9I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” He did this to fulfil his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”

John 18:11But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?” Jesus refused to circumvent the process. The remaining ten disciples were armed and guess who told them to carry their swords? Read the rest of this entry

Your Heart

John 17:17&19 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth …And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.” (NRSV & NLT)

God can bring glory out of shame, however, shame itself does not glorify God. In fact, there would be no need for God to change shame to glory if shame glorifies God. So, shame is of no value to anybody. Apart from the glory confusion, there is also the ‘by God’s grace’ confusion. Read the rest of this entry

Unity

Eph.4:2-3 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.”

Yesterday, we looked at two of the three predominant themes in Jesus’ prayer. Jesus prayed for Protection, Jesus prayed for Glory and thirdly for Unity. Jesus prayed for unity. Jn.17:21, 23I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you… I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry

The Focus

John 17:1 “After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” (emphasis added).

When it was close to the hour of His crucifixion, Jesus narrowed the focus of His prayers. Jesus said in John 17:9&20 My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.” (emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry