PETER’S
IMPULSIVE LOVE
(John 21)

         You can’t help but love Impulsive Peter. It was the third time that Jesus showed Himself to his disciples after He was risen from the dead.
         Don’t you know they had missed Him? Some of the guys were sitting around by the sea of Tiberias when Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” 
         The others said, “We’ll go with you.” (John 21:3). They could have thought, “Might as well go fishing. We are so use to following Jesus, and He’s not here with us now.”

         So, they continued their regular work and fished all night. When morning came, they saw someone standing on the shore but didn’t know who it was.
         As they strained their eyes to see, John was the first to recognize Him. He told Peter, “It’s the Lord.”
         When John said this, Peter was so excited that he put on his fisher’s coat and quickly cast himself into the sea. He swam the hundred yards to shore just as fast as he could swim.
         He was the first to reach Jesus as the others came behind in the small ship (skiff), dragging the net with many fish.
         But, don’t you know, they were rowing as fast as they could? There was much excitement!  As they reached the shore, Jesus already had a fire of coals there and fish and bread prepared for them.

         What a celebration they must have had. But my heart goes out to Peter ___ Impulsive Peter! The one who forgot the fish, the boat, and the other disciples in his excitement. Nothing mattered to him as much as seeing his Lord and being with Him again. Peter was the first to reach Jesus because he jumped into the water and got there as fast as he knew how.
         Oh, the stoic, stable Christians may put Peter down for his impulsive love for Jesus. But they may miss something very important if they do.
         How many times in my life have I been just like Peter. I don’t know where one of my mottos came from…unless planted there by the Lord. But, I have made decisions many times by saying: “I’ll jump into the water. I’ll either sink or swim. I have never drowned yet.”

         For years now I have seen other young Peters…so on fire for Jesus all they want to do is “jump into the water” and swim towards Him, as fast as they can.
         I’ve never understood why other disciples want to hold them back… keep them on the skiff…saying things like: “You’re too young. You don’t know what you are doing. You will drown if you don’t do it our way; if you don’t listen to us and be like us.”
         There was nothing wrong with the disciples who stayed in the ship and brought in the fish. Thank goodness, they didn’t stop Peter. They probably laughed and cheered him on…even wishing they were doing the same thing. But, they too, had to be obedient to the call on their life.
         Don’t you know Jesus was cheering him on, too? Standing on the shore, clapping His hands, and saying, “Come on Peter. You can make it. Come on boy.”

         And as Peter reached the shore…Jesus had probably waded into the edge of the water to meet him. I can picture them falling, stumbling, into each other’s arms; embracing, laughing, and embracing again. They were both so happy to see each other.
         Don’t you know…Jesus smiled at Impulsive Peter. Who could deny such love? Not Jesus.
         I’ve seen many young Peters become discouraged because others didn’t see the importance of their Impulsive Love for Jesus. This always grieves my spirit as it must our Lord’s. Whether we arrive at the shore in a slow boat filled with fish…or impulsively swim ahead…God loves us all and has a purpose for the way He created each of us.
         It’s the Impulsive Peters who add the spark to our life. Let’s not discount them, please. But delight in their abundant, overpowering, Impulsive Love for Jesus!

COME PETER…
COME ALL…