Fruit Full by Christie Thomas

Author:Christie Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Published: 2022-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

DISCUSSION STARTER

Have you ever doubted something about the Bible? (Parents, please share too! Then, invite members of your family to share any thoughts they have about each other’s doubts. Make sure to be kind and patient with each other!)

PRAYER

Thank you, Jesus, for being patient with those who doubt. Teach us to trust you deeper as we learn to believe without seeing. Amen.

DAY 50

ROCK-SOLID PATIENCE

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

(JOHN 21:15)

Have you ever messed up? Maybe you said something so mean that you ruined a friendship, slammed your door so hard that your dad took it off its hinges, or talked back so bad to your mom that you lost all your privileges for two weeks.

We all mess up sometimes, including Jesus’s disciples. Take Peter, for example.

Peter was one of Jesus’s three best friends. He was the only disciple to walk on water and was one of the first people to call Jesus Messiah. Jesus said to Peter, “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18). What an amazing promise! It must have made Peter stand up a lot straighter and cast a few side glances at his friends. “See?” he might have thought, “I rock.”

Peter was so convinced he was Jesus’s best follower that he said he’d never, ever, ever leave Jesus. Even if everyone else abandoned Jesus, he never would. Peter knew he was a rock-solid best friend.

Except, this rock-solid friend ended up melting like hot lava the minute Jesus was arrested. When people asked if he knew Jesus, Peter angrily denied their friendship! Some rock he turned out to be.

You know who wasn’t surprised that Peter messed up? Jesus. He knew this was going to happen and even predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. Of course, it turned out exactly as he said. Peter faked not knowing Jesus three times, then the rooster crowed. As soon as Peter heard the bird, he knew how bad he had messed up and cried big, fat tears of regret.

Days later, Peter was again with Jesus, this time with a lot less self-confidence. Thankfully, Jesus has rock-solid patience with sinners like Peter. He gave Peter three chances to say, “I love you,” and reminded him that he still had a place in God’s kingdom.

Looking at Jesus always shows us something true about God. Jesus was patient with Peter and forgave him for ditching Jesus when he most needed a friend, and he will also forgive you when you mess up. As you become more like Jesus, he will help you be patient with your friends and family when they hurt you. Maybe you were having a rough morning and your mom yelled at you instead of finding out what was wrong. Jesus can help you show patience with her.

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